1999 Derry Diary #3 11 June

'Diary #3 June 11, 1999', '11 June, 1999', 'Failte! to new members of this list and to our regulars...from the second floor of the Derry Library overlooking the attractive Ulster Bus Station...We are all well...I usually write these goodies the morning after events so if I'm behind in the newsy things you'll know why...or not...
Friday 11 June, 1999
Absolutely quiet and restful nite...no one was talking in their sleep, walking in their sleep, or singing in their sleep...I think all of us slept through the nite...The day was grey again when I awoke to begin my city center pilgrimage to pray at the well of brewed coffee and read from the holy scriptures of the daily newspaper....I get up around six before anyone else stirs for this quiet daily prayer...it is the one luxury that God in his almighty goodness has granted me...isn't He cool?...People still cannot understand why a group of American's including teenagers would come to Derry to scrape paint, paint doors and walls, take care of pre-schoolers and file documents...they think we're daft...yet on the same hand, they love having us around...', 'The Bloody Sunday Trust (painting, scraping and the like) have phoned various agencies, thanking them for sending us to them...thats neato...our work is educational, as well as practical...these kids are learning so much about this community that it is hard to absorb it all... The other director and myself ran into Mary Nelis on the street, the Sinn Fein assembly person and who organized the agencies wherein we work. I had just finished reading an article in the paper about her. She was vilified by the RUC (national police force, Royal Ulster Constabulary) for 'demonizing' the police...she agreed with the article...Sin Fein wants to do away with the police force and replace it with a more representative police...right now the RUC is 92% Protestant...mmmm...anyway, the documentaion is there for people to check out if they want...That is what the Pat Finucane Center is all about.... Alas...we were going to go to Donegal town tomorrow, but searching around for a mini-bus to haul is turned out to be too expensive...I'm thinking that maybe one day next week when the rates are lower...Everyone has a story...while the girls and the other director went into town to a disco; by the way the girls looked fabulous; I stayed back (because I have no life nor do I dance...)and helped out at the parish hall (our home) with bingo...375 ladies showed up for the games...very serious business....anyway I was chatting away with a retired meter-reader who was telling stories about the WWII and the American Navy which was stationed in Derry...it was a sub base...his recollections were, to say the least, hilarious...they loved the Americans because they were so generous...I wish I could relate some of his stories...I will try and jot some down this week...now that's a lost art...story telling...man, everyone I meet has a story...even the director of the Parish Hall has a story...he was elected chairman of the council (almost like the mayor) of the Bogside during the heat of the torubles...he has a wealth of historical eye-witness and no ax to grind...He gave me a tremendous insight into the IRA and some of its members who show up from time to time to drop off their children for day care, he says...now, everytime I see someone coming to the door I say to myself "mmm I wonder...." Actually, I feel very safe in our neighborhood... Finally a sad story....James broke up with his girl friend of six years...she was two-timing him behind his back...he dropped her like a stone...but dispite the hurt, he holds his head up high and continues to practice his soccer, not allowing this experience to get in the way or bring him down...James is 12.

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No journal tomorrow...next installment Monday morning.... Have a pleasant weekend....

Slan, Paul (BlackShade)