Now that I have learned to keep my coffee out of arm's reach as I read your Substack, it is an even *better* experience. You so gracefully blend insight and humor that JJ would adopt you, if, of course, he could see you. (The eye and syphilis thing ...)
Even at my age, "who do you think your are?" still sends a shiver. However, without a qualm or shiver, I can say, you *are* a first-rate writer.
Raised as an Irish Catholic in Canada during and post-WWII, my siblings and I were expected to follow the traditional working-class careers of our older generations. Thus, I experienced my ‘you flighty, arrogant little nitwit’ moment when I went into broadcasting, forever labeling me as an apostate. As you discovered, survival is doing what you think is your path and enjoying every day. Delighted to find a hilarious new word (for me), ‘bell-end.’ I had to look it up.
I'd love to see a lot of people walking around small Irish towns wearing red berets! Although I didn't grow up in Ireland I did grow up in Boston, which claimed to be part of Ireland😆
Many of my neighbors and relatives felt that they were obligated to control my life by offering very aggressive, intrusive advice. There were consequences for not following their advice which ranged from heavy criticism to being ostracized. "You've got your hands full with that insolent child" they'd tell my mom.
Even your stories that pick at my scabs make me chuckle. I found comfort in this one, knowing that you share similar battle scars! Thanks!❤
Love this. As an American I will say we don't have that individuality thing anywhere close to nailed down. It sounds great on paper (and how eloquently you defined it), but in reality...."as long as you don't harm others" is a painfully gray area too often abused. One person's entitlement is to judge another person's "harm" to them... How do you define harm to not mean disapprove or dislike?
I admire your "guts" to emigrate. Sometimes you (I) can only handle so much beret-ment.
Going Your Own Way, Irishness as 'Not-Britishness', and Rethinking Entitlement
My mother is from Galway, I get it. May St. Cecelia of the Non-Perishable Aisle watch over you.
I bought a green hat once, and my dad turned into a flower pot so that I wouldn’t wear it.
...it did look like a pantomime hat. But still!
Now that I have learned to keep my coffee out of arm's reach as I read your Substack, it is an even *better* experience. You so gracefully blend insight and humor that JJ would adopt you, if, of course, he could see you. (The eye and syphilis thing ...)
Even at my age, "who do you think your are?" still sends a shiver. However, without a qualm or shiver, I can say, you *are* a first-rate writer.
Raised as an Irish Catholic in Canada during and post-WWII, my siblings and I were expected to follow the traditional working-class careers of our older generations. Thus, I experienced my ‘you flighty, arrogant little nitwit’ moment when I went into broadcasting, forever labeling me as an apostate. As you discovered, survival is doing what you think is your path and enjoying every day. Delighted to find a hilarious new word (for me), ‘bell-end.’ I had to look it up.
I'd love to see a lot of people walking around small Irish towns wearing red berets! Although I didn't grow up in Ireland I did grow up in Boston, which claimed to be part of Ireland😆
Many of my neighbors and relatives felt that they were obligated to control my life by offering very aggressive, intrusive advice. There were consequences for not following their advice which ranged from heavy criticism to being ostracized. "You've got your hands full with that insolent child" they'd tell my mom.
Even your stories that pick at my scabs make me chuckle. I found comfort in this one, knowing that you share similar battle scars! Thanks!❤
Love this. As an American I will say we don't have that individuality thing anywhere close to nailed down. It sounds great on paper (and how eloquently you defined it), but in reality...."as long as you don't harm others" is a painfully gray area too often abused. One person's entitlement is to judge another person's "harm" to them... How do you define harm to not mean disapprove or dislike?
I admire your "guts" to emigrate. Sometimes you (I) can only handle so much beret-ment.
I agree, really excellent.
Excellent piece, Laura.