Derry Diary #18
16 July 2004
Rosemount
Overcast mild

NO Diary Tomorrow (Saturday) We will be camping in Donegal. Diaries #19,#20(combined) on Sunday - wooo-wheee

I forgot to tell you that our pictures were in the "Derry News" yesterday and are supposed to be in the "Derry Journal" soon. I noticed in the picture of the group on the Guildhall steps of me accepting the plaque from the Mayor, I am chubby...not stocky, nor of big bones, just fat. This is a wake up call, after my belt popping of a few days ago. As I walk through the town on my way to get a scone or a fancie, I can feel people's eyes on me and in their heads saying, "My goodness, that 'merican sure is tubby." I would think that after walking the Rosemount Hill every day I would be more svelte. Must be the genes...yeah that's it...you buy that? Or maybe I just have special needs. Thinking about it, a pillow would be good and maybe a soft bed...sigh...and so it goes.

Today was the last full day of work for our kids. I can feel how difficult it is for them to leave which is a good thing and an uncomfortable thing. Good thing in that they made a connection with the community, but uncomfortable thing in that leaving brings in a lot o' tears. Well maybe that IS a good thing.

Today I acted as a reporter for the Derry News (sorry Paul T. I was hired) for a brief moment. The photographer showed up to take a picture of the wanes going off camping this afternoon but couldn't wait. I was pressed into duty and we made a deal. I'll email him the group shot and he will email me the pic of us getting the plaque from the Mayor.

Below is the group on their way to Donegal.We will join the kids tomorrow.

I do not know what possessed me to say yes to this venture. Sunday's DD will give you the low down. The kids are all looking forward to having the 'mericans camping out with them and they even bought us two tents to stay. Oh boy! (I wonder if their is a Motel 6 nearby). I guess you will have to wait till Sunday to get the story.

After a scrumptious feast of big hot dogs and little buns and chili and salad cooked by Nora and Bobby, we were off to Pennyburn to go bowling as our last private community nite. From now on we really are motive by other things ...camping, Sunday fun day, Monday work and Tuesday leave.

Mel with a less-than-winning-form..

The bowling alley is also an arcade, snooker and in another part of the building, a pub with 2 large bouncers at the door. Very intimidating. You don't have to wear special stylish bowling shoes only if you are NOT wearing flip-flops, or stiletto heel so I had to leave mine in the taxi. We played one and one half games on our lanes...in other words we paid for an hour. The allies are dark except for flashing lights and colorful spotlights. I wanted the bumpers up but no, we played normal style...and the scores showed it.

Patti 81                     Mel (a dismal) 42            Norma 75

Nell (Janelle) 61        Cal/Paul 74

Val 116                    Bobby 128

Matt 134                  Andrew 59

Nora glowing after her strike

Pathetic as the scores may indicate, we actually played worse than that. Our annual trek to Pennyburn is completed and we left quietly to little fanfare. Before we went, though, many of our kids were hooked on the 2p (2 pence coin) machine which pushes coins to the edge and eventually knocks the farthest one off. Patti's eyes were glazed over as she put 2p after 2p in the machine. I'm only guessing but I think it was her entire medical school tuition that went in the slot. We looked in the phone book to see if there was a 2p-annonymous meeting nearby.

Mel was 'chatted up' (hit on) by a boy who was proud of the fact that he was 10 and three quarters years old. Anything to lift Mel's spirits after such a dismal showing in the game. It must have been her "Pipi Longstocking" hairdo that did it.

All kidding aside though it was a good night out and it was good all the way around.

Tonites prayer/journal was led by Patti who gave a challenge to the group on how to protect this community we have built over the past few months and last 18 days. How to hear each others needs over the next few precious days we have in Derry and the rest of their senior year. It was a welcomed and thought provoking discussion. We ended with the Lord's prayer.

More later.

cheers,

paul and Cal(AWOL)