We’ve reached the portion of our programming where we took diverging paths for a week. We checked out of the Palm Springs condo and parked downtown for a few hours so that Larry could finish his work week. I almost got to see a friend from Alaska whom I haven’t seen in person in 15 years, but the timing just didn’t work out. But a near miss that rekindles communications is almost as good as an in-person hug. After work Larry dropped me off at LAX and took Louie off for his own adventures in California (see next post, if you’re lucky).

I’ve known since last year that I would make a trip over to see Meredith. she’s been in university now two years in Northern Ireland, and she really wanted a chance to show me around her world. I was all too happy to oblige. Granted, a flight to the emerald isle from LAX is significantly longer than a flight from Boston, but it was made easier with an upgrade to business class.

Once I landed in Ireland I had to take a bus to Belfast, and then a train to Coleraine, and then a taxi to Portstewart, where Meredith currently resides. She fed me, pointed me in the direction of a shower, and gave up her bed for me. Such a sweetie. We spent three days in Northern Ireland. First she showed me her university, her labs, her work, her stomping grounds. We spent the remainder of the time exploring Portstewart, Port Rush, Coleraine, the Mussenden Temple, and the Downhill Demesne estate. We brunched, beach combed, wandered, snuggled, laughed, chatted, and sat in comfortable silences, parallel playing or napping (or both). I got to meet friends, her new (and adorable) boyfriend, one of her roommates, and some of her classmates. We spent the last evening visiting her very quiet neighbors in their ancient resting grounds and packing for a few days in the Republic.

Sunday we headed to Belfast where I got to see her new apartment. She will live next year with her best friend, Megan in a very cute apartment, her first non-university accommodations. It was lovely to watch them talking with friends, trying to learn the basics like hooking up electricity, internet, and gas. I had the pleasure of taking Mer and three of her friends out to lunch. It was such a blessing to be able to see the people she is surrounding herself with, and to feel comfortable with the community that she is building.

After Belfast, we caught a train to Dublin for a short city stay. Our friend, Amy, was also in Dublin seeing a friend. We don’t get to see her very much now that she’s in Amsterdam, so we were delighted to spend a couple days with her. Together we wandered the city, ate some tasty food, went to two speakeasies, played games (cribbage, Coloretto, gin), listened to session music and learned more about fairy lore at the leprechaun museum.

The weather was absolutely stunning for my entire visit. Mer said I brought California with me. The other thing that was constant for the whole visit was how impressed I was with my kid. I mean, all parents are biased, but Meredith really is something special. She is so mature, so clever, so happy, and so talented. I am very proud of the young adult she is and very impressed with all that she has lined up. It’s a blessed life for sure.