And now we welcome the new year, full of things that have never been
Rainer Maria Rilke
People get together this time of the year. They exchange what happened to them over the past twelve months. They find it difficult to believe that yet another year has gone by. So fast. They share their plans, their outlook for the coming year.
What will be different? What are our hopes and dreams? Will life be better? Will we be happier?
On Friday, Christmas started in our house with Pádraig’s annual Christmas party.
Organised by one of his friends, they came to catch up and to have a good time together. It was truly heartwarming. And the stories being shared were those of young people becoming adults.
Some could not join because they were at a wedding. One had just become a father for a second time. Another is now living permanently in Thailand. One arrived late because he had just secured temporary tenancy of a recording studio where he will produce the soundtrack of a new movie production. Another will be getting married in the summer and hopes the ‘sale agreed’ on their new home will not fall through. One shared her new book while another gave a fantastic rendition of her latest song. Some have become national celebrities. A few came early because they were on the way to a family Christmas party or had to go home on the train to the country. A whole group left to join, as they have done for many years, Damian Dempsey at one of his pre-Christmas concerts, running every evening over a whole week.
The smell of mulled wine filled the house. The myth of the secret recipe it was based on and the poitin it contained, from an old woman living in an ancient, small cottage at the end of a long lane in the back of the beyonds added to the excitement and the mystery.
Even when it turned out that Jamie Oliver had actually spoiled the secrecy of the recipe by publishing it on his website, and the poitin, in fact, was the last remaining from a present Pádraig had received many years ago from his old friend Siosamh – it took away nothing from the magic of the evening.
Some of his friends had brought along their instruments. Between some old Irish songs and some new, self-authored ones, the evening ended in a very special way.
At times, I listen to German radio very early in the morning or late at night. For some reason, Rainer Maria Rilke came up a few times recently.. One of his poems struck a real chord with me. One, I hadn’t read before.
Extinguish my eyes, I’ll go on seeing you.
Seal my ears, I’ll go on hearing you.
And without feet I can make my way to you,
without a mouth I can swear your name.
Break off my arms, I’ll take hold of you
with my heart as with a hand.
Stop my heart, and my brain will start to beat.
And if you consume my brain with fire,
I’ll feel you burn in every drop of my blood.
As all poems, it will mean different things to each person. For me it is about unconditional love, about deep dedication, resilience, and never giving up.
Stop my heart and my brain will start to beat.
Can it get more powerful?
There is a quote by Rilke, from his letters to a young poet, that I also like:
Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.
Act with beauty and courage and the dragons will turn into princesses who just want our love. What a nice thought.
I look forward to this Christmas. There were times when I thought this would never ever happen again. Happy Christmas? Expecting with excitement the New Year? Not for me. Not for us. Not anymore.
How things have changed.
Pádraig is not walking or talking or being independent. The situation itself has not changed. However, he is showing me how to change my attitude to it. Every day. It is a huge challenge. But everything else would end in disaster.
Pádraig can count on his friends. An he is with Viktor Frankl:
Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of human freedoms – to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.
Thank you all for all your support and all your help. I cannot imagine what our lives would look like without you.
Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year! Nollaig Shona! Frohe Weihnachten! Feliz Navidad!
Hospi-Tales 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all over there…and everywhere! May we all recognize and appreciate what we have in our lives. Not always easy, but always for the best.
Comfort, peace, and joy to the world!
And to you! It is hope and faith, however we define that for ourselves, that keeps us going. Perhaps looking at what life expects from us rather than what we expect from it. An eye on what we have, on what we can contribute, on how we can help to make the world, even our own, small world, a better place. – We won’t save the world. Our dreams will not come true. But that doesn’t stop us trying anyways. Doing it in good company makes it so much easier. Doing it with a twinkle in your eye so much more fun.
Comfort, peace, and joy to the world! May the road rise to meet you!
Beautiful words, beautiful sentiments. May we meet on that road that rises to meet us!
And a very merry Christmas to you and all your family! You are touching so many hearts and lives…
Thank you, Donna. Your friendship and support means the world to us. I hope the coming days will bring happiness and peace, and help you and all of us to transition to a brand new year, full of hope and positive changes.