I was going to look up what ‘normal’ means before writing tonight. Then I thought: no need to look it up – I know myself what normal is. It’s a state that on one hand gives you some security, because ‘normal’ doesn’t attract any attention, is not being laughed at, and is not pitied. ‘Normal’ gives you some respite, you blend in with the crowd.
But then, I did not really want to write about ‘normal’. I wanted to write a state that is the opposite to normal – but I couldn’t find a word to describe this state. Maybe ‘crazy’ , like rock stars? Or sick, like societal outcasts? Or ‘extraordinary’, like heroes? I want to find out more about non-normal lives because I feel that whatever I do, however much I pretend that life just goes on, that you go with the flow, none of what I am living through is ‘normal’. The strangest thing is when I am in ‘normal’ life situations acting ‘normal’, for split seconds even joining ‘normal’ life. I am beginning to realize that life will never ever be ‘normal’ again for me. And I am getting this feeling that my new non-normal life has just begun to emerge. And as much as I would like to know, I have no idea what it is going to be like.
Pádraig was fine today. His two Irish visitors got a dispensation from the hospital to come in and see him before visiting time to say ‘good-bye’ to Pádraig. They were delighted when they both got a firm squeeze of their hands from Pádraig before they left. Sundays are quiet in the hospital, it feels like recovery time after a busy week with a full schedule of different therapies, all quiet exhausting. It is good to have a Ruhetag once a week on Sunday, to both recover from last and to get prepared for the next week.
There was no rest for the swimmers in Trinity today where D.U.S.C. had called upon swimmers to ‘swim a mile for Paddy’. And before I forget: thank you to all the organizers, and especially Jane.
This is an extract from what organizer Jane wrote to us afterwards:
We had swimmers young and old down! Five little guys and girls came from Tallaght swim team, 3 from Aerlingus and 3 from Atlantis who came down with their mums and dads after seeing the post on the swim Ireland website! One 9 year old from Atlantis had never swum more than 400m before and did the whole mile non stop!!Today’s German Music Tip
Schwimmer, Gegen die Wand (2012). The music won’t be everybody’s cup of tea – I think you’ll need to turn it up to really enjoy it.
What’s hot
Miles
What’s cold
Kilometres
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Das ist sicher nicht jedermann’s Sache
Twitter: @forPadraig
#caringforPadraig
http://www.caringforPadraig.org
Upcoming events: http://www.caringforPadraig.org/events
Hospi-Tales 
Solidarity is one of those things that are good for everybody, for the one who gives for the one who receives. That Young boy will not only have learned to swim longer but also the importance of being in society and looking for someone else and also to trust in people because if something happen to him in future he knows that people will help as he helped too. The best lessons are here. Pádraig´s Stolpersteine are making people think and react!!!! I like much more these kind of Stolpersteine!!!
Isaac and Nathan really enjoyed the Swim a Mile for Padraig. Isaac is really impressed that he is in the photo on this blog, he is the swimmer with the yellow hat. Often I wanted to write something on this blog just so you would know that we care and are following Padraig’s progress but often words something fail to express such sentiments. In just under a month Lynn will be doing her own Swim a Mile for Padraig in the NAC (long Course!)
Lynn will be doing a sea swim next, Fergal! It’s incredible how this swimming thing is catching on. And that you don’t have to stop when you’re 19. We are missing you and all of our and Pádraig’s friends so much, but knowing that you are with us in your thoughts gives us the strength we need, it’s almost as if you were with us. The advantage of the long course is that there’ll be only half the number of lengths to swim!