Things take on a different meaning when you experience them in a different context. Has it ever happened to you that you tell a story a couple of times to different people, and it provokes the same predictable reaction? It has the same effect, and the effect you want to achieve. And then, something changes. All of a sudden, this story that you have told so many times, provoking the same reaction, the reaction you wanted to achieve, this story that you know so well and you know how to tell, is taking over. It acquires a life of its own. It’s like as if it decided to leave you and acquire a personality. To interact with the world and to influence the course of life, time and history. This has happened to me.

I used the story of Skyfall, probably the best James Bond movie of all times, and Adele’s song, probably the best James Bond score of all times, to tell people about changes in the localization industry (that’s where I have worked most of my adult life). Now, the day of Pádraig’s accident, I gave a talk entitled ‘Skyfall’. In Sanya. Exactly 12 hours time difference with Cape Cod. – Listen to the song, and the lyrics. They are a bit apocalyptic. But they also stress solidarity and are full of hope for a new beginning.

Let the sky fall
When it crumbles
We will stand tall
Face it all together

For the past seven months and a bit, I could not listen to this song and its opening lines. again. Tonight, I listen to them in a different way: no matter what happens to you in life. No matter what happens to Pádraig. No matter – even if the sky falls. We will stand tall  (and if you know Pádraig, you know what ‘tall’ is). We will face it all together.

I did not know, and I mean this, what “Face it all together” meant, until hundreds of people got together to help Pádraig (and us) facing what has felt like sky fall.

Pádraig today was fine, until the nurse turned him and his oxygen levels dropped to a point where they decided to get the respirator back into action. It felt like sky fall. How often can you move ahead, stop, move back, move ahead, stop, ….? But I know, no matter what happens, even if the sky fall, we will stand tall, together.

My thanks, and that of my family, to Eileen and her friends, our friends, Pádraig’s friends for a fabulous night at Na Fianna. It certainly was a very different table quiz. With a humbling generosity demonstrated by people from all walks of life: old friends, new friends, young ones and those almost as old as us! – Eileen wrote a report about this extraordinary night and it’s up now here.

Finally, one of the most amazing concerts of the year is coming up. It will take place this coming Wednesday:

Ceolchoirm ar son Phádraig i gColáiste Eoin

Wednesday, 7 February at 8:00 p.m (doors 7.30)
Among these musicians are:
– Liam Ó Maonlaí
– Na Casadaigh
– The Bonnymen,
– Skipper’s Alley
– UCD Choral Scholars
– Grúpa Siansa Choláiste Eoin & Íosagáin and the young musicians of Coláiste Eoin.

Thank you to the organizers for all their hard work, to the musicians for their enthusiastic support, and to all who will attend!

Today’s German Music Tip
Konstantin Wecker, Empört Euch (2011). Beschwert Euch, Wehrt Euch, Liebt Euch, und widersteht. Es ist nie zu spät. (“Wir brauchen Spinner und Verrückte, wir sehen doch, was passiert, wenn die Normalen regieren.”)
What’s hot
Standing tall
What’s cold
Sky fall
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Widersteht!

Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Upcoming events: http://www.caringforPadraig.org/events