Three Things That Stopped Me in My Tracks
Three things stopped me in my tracks this weekend on a trip to Boyle, County Roscommon.
Collective pride.
Love in motion.
Matilda, in the red party dress.
Let me explain.
1. Collective Pride
This weekend my twin sons' band, Cease and Desist, travelled almost 208 kilometres from Greencastle, County Donegal, to perform at the Boyle Arts Festival.
The band members range in age from 14 to almost 18, and securing a festival gig so far from home felt like a milestone in itself. My sons are drums and bass.
Of course, I was proud of how they played.
But I was even prouder of how they conducted themselves.
They were polite, friendly, grateful to be there and genuinely appreciative of the opportunity they had been given.
But it was just as much about how they were treated.
The Boyle community, the festival organisers and the other musicians welcomed these young lads with nothing but encouragement and respect. Fellow musicians.
Standing there were three sets of proud parents, along with their adopted musical parent, Aegon, whose belief and encouragement brought this band together in the first place.
Then came the icing on the cake.
Another booking. Another invitation to perform, this time almost 218 kilometres from home.
What an experience for five young musicians. First outdoor gig, and the sun shone.
Bliss.
“Whether it’s the arts, sports, care or other volunteering — people giving their time, supporting others with care and community is so important in the fabric of life.”
2. Love in Motion
Witnessing the beauty of a couple dancing.
We were all captivated. They danced to Cease and Desist's cover of David Bowie's Heroes, out in the open and in the sunshine.
I have no idea who they are.
But they captured all of our hearts.
There was such joy. They danced with ease, and the affection between them was obvious for all to see. It was impossible not to smile.
I hope that George and I are still that fit, that well, and still dancing together in years to come.
Love, quite literally, in motion.
“The dancing couple made me think of the work of When I Get Old and how they work to inspire the narrative around ageing well in place. What better example than an afternoon dance in the sunshine.”
3. Matilda, Wearing a Red Party Dress
While listening to The Men Who Knew Too Much, a little girl - about three or four years old, wearing the brightest red party dress - became fascinated by Georgia.
She kept saying hello.
There was no reply.
For those who regularly follow my posts, you'll know that Georgia has no speech.
The little girl wasn't giving up.
"What's her name?" she asked.
"Georgia."
"Why didn't she tell me herself?"
"She can't talk."
"What?! Why?"
"She was born like that."
"But why?"
"She can't talk, but she can understand."
"Is she a baby?"
"No."
"Can she open her mouth?"
"Yes. Would you like to come over and say hello again?"
She thought about it.
"No thank you."
All of this while The Men Who Knew Too Much played on in the background.
She looked genuinely confused. Perhaps even a little upset.
Her mum smiled at me.
I smiled back.
As they walked away, I said, "I love your dress."
"Thanks," she replied.
She took a few steps.
Then turned around, came back and said,
"I love your dress too."
The innocent questions that children ask.
I tried to answer as simply, kindly and honestly as I could. But I couldn't really give a rational explanation.
She carried on with her dainty twirls and claps, always with a little look across to Georgia.
Three moments. Three reminders.
People, at their best, are extraordinary.
Pride that is shared.
Love that keeps dancing.
And curiosity that, when met with kindness, helps us all understand each other a little better - even when we can't quite make sense of ourselves.
“Sometimes it’s just not possible to make sense of or explain disability. That doesn’t diminish the enormity of how it feels at times. But that little girl’s questions and obvious shock and concern really touched my heart. She was genuinely curious. Stay curious and approach life with honesty and empathy.”
