Size matters. Not always, but at times.

Tonight was going to be the night. But the man, known to have friends in low place and due to attend the dance, hasn’t shown up. It’s quiet around Croke Park tonight. And tomorrow night. An another three nights. The biggest ever number of people due to watch a country boy sing, around 400,000 of them, will be roaming the streets of Dublin this week. Lost, as if tomorrow never comes.

Here is a secret. It’s also about the Southern States, not Tennessee, but its neighbour Kentucky, and about Pádraig’s swimming scholarship in a division 1 college, the University of Kentucky; about the faith of its head coach in Pádraig’s ability to really make a difference. The decision of the coach to offer him the scholarship was based, as I understand, on his great results as a swimmer; there was some really strong competition though with some other swimmers having delivered similar results. What made him stand apart was his size – tall people make fast swimmers, there was a lot of potential, with the right coaching. What eventually got him the scholarship, however, were his feet. The first day we spent with him on campus, trying to find his room, trying to find our way around – I don’t know how many people commented on his feet and how similar they were to those of Michael Phelps, in size.

So today, this was another step ahead. Another first. There really is no end, no end, to these ‘firsts’. Boots are made for walking. Shops didn’t have them, ordering online just took two days. Size 15. And sitting in his wheelchair, his feet reached the ground, and firmly claimed that territory! Step by step (mmmhhh), normality is coming back. Socks (we’ll forget for a second that they were white) and shoes (cool ‘Vans’) – where will the next step take him?

Third day on the speech valve, no bother. Another bite to eat. Apple and banana puree. AND: since we can now lift Pádraig in and out of the bed, the therapists had time to put Pádraig onto a tilt table which allows Pádraig to ‘stand’ almost upright. He hadn’t done this for a long time, so he was struggling with his blood pressure – but, like everything else, it’s a matter of practice. It’ll be much easier the next time, and the next, and so on. He’ll have to keep going!

Today’s Music Tip
Frieda Gold, Wovon sollen wir träumen. – “Ich bin mitten drin und geb mich allem hin – ich krieg’s nicht hin und fühl’ mich deshalb beschissen…”
What’s hot
Socks and shoes
What’s cold
Standing still
The German word/phrase/verse of the day
Bares (10 points to whoever gets this right:)