October is coming to an end, and I naively thought I had plenty of time to work on my blog post number eight! At least, I still have a few days left before the deadline although I can feel the pressure on me. I may go for a blog a month next year, as it seems that this year I have been too relaxed with only aiming for ten, which has resulted in having just a couple of days left to accomplish my goal on several occasions. I will see how things go however I could say that I am one of those who performs better under pressure. Nevertheless, I should focus on getting this one ready and ensuring I meet my target before 2025 finishes. Time seems to be flying faster and faster as the year advances (great topic to write about). The good news is that I have the topic sorted for this one and the following one, which means I will only have to worry about the last one once December quicks in; I am sure I will come up with a great theme for it, but if you have suggestions, do let me know!
It is a dull afternoon of the October Monday Bank Holiday. It was sunny with clear blue skies earlier this morning however, the grey clouds have taken over making sure the sun has no chances of reappearing. Drizzle and rain are taking it into turns, not an outdoor day at all. All the blinds are up, all the lights and lamps are on, but it still feels dark here in the sitting room. Even the few last summer flowers look lifeless, as if they were aware of the miserable weather out there. On the other side though one can sense the calm before the storm, as strong winds and gusts are on the way. Now that we have all moved the clocks backward, the shorter days are here to stay, reminding us of those long dim and fainted days that will definitely chain us to the darkness of winter.
My usual cupán tae,to keep me going, to cheer me up, to comfort me. The candle flickering away pretending to defy the dullness of the day. My Catalan music playlist in the background to inspire me. And obviously, Chief Superintendent Smudge the cat curled next to me, waking up very so often to give me one of her looks, those that strongly reprimand me for still not having finished this blog post, hilarious. Let’s get down to business…
…Last month for the first time in nearly four years, I went back to Tarragona…my hometown, part of who I have become…
Connections, powerful connections. I have written many times about Ireland having become home to me, about Ireland having given me the chance to rediscover myself, about Ireland having gifted me the chance of blossoming. However, I rarely expand on being Catalan, celebrating my roots or the importance of my origins. When I moved to the Emerald Isle I left behind a part of my life which recently I have felt the need to reconnect with. The fact that my parents moved from my hometown brought a new dimension when flying to Catalonia. My parents now live in the Pyrenees, so when visiting them I am not going back to my Catalan home, but to my parents house. Do not get me wrong, the Aran Valley is beautiful but I am not deeply rooted there, it does not nourish my Catalan soul as it should. The thing is that by trying to please and visit them I had ended up neglecting myself. Last month for the first time in nearly four years, I went back to Tarragona. Words cannot express the contentment, the joy, in fact pure joy and happiness, the great vibrations of wandering around the old town of the old Roman Tarraco, of walking along l’Arrabassad beach where I used to go to clear my head, of having breakfast in one of my usual cafés just round the corner where I used to live. I felt like I was back home, it did indeed. The power of reengaging with a part of who I am, simply priceless. The power of reconnecting with my hometown, simply timeless. The power of relinking with my past, simply fearless. Tarragona carries loads of memories, of special moments, of unforgettable experiences, of love. Tarragona holds plenty of struggles and hard times, of sad times, of tears. Tarragona encloses me and my thoughts, me and my dreams, me and my weaknesses, me and my fears, me and my strengths, me and my hardships, me and my worries. Tarragona, my hometown, part of who I have become.
…Life is too short and one does not know what tomorrow will bring or take away from you…
Connections, meaningful connections. The fact that my parents moved from my hometown has also brought a new issue when flying to see them.There is not a chance of visiting the rest of the family and getting to meet with my friends as Tarragona is nearly a four hours drive or an endless journey by bus and train. I guess that losing one of my besties last December somehow influenced the need to make an effort to visit Tarragona despite my parents no longer living there. Life is too short and one does not know what tomorrow will bring or take away from you. Words cannot express the excitement, the rewards, the emotions of reconnecting with friends. The power of being greeted at the airport by my two besties and others, simple heart melting. The power of spending the day with my besties, chatting away, laughing, honouring our missing bestie, making new memories, simple soul touching. The power of enjoying an invigorating chat with my childhood friend by the beach, simply soul warming. The power of spending a couple of hours with my friends from my teenage and adult years as time had never passed, simply soul nourishing. The power of getting together with my friend from University and her family, simply soul comforting. The power of chatting away with my old neighbour as it was yesterday when we last talked to each other, simple soul embracing. The power of going shopping with my aunt – my second mom, simply unforgettable. The power of sharing dinner with one of my cousins, simple soul empowering. It was really overwhelming to see everyone making an effort to meet me and my partner, simply speechless! Friends of mine, to whom I owe unconditional support, laughter and loads of shared memories.
…reconnect with my past as a gesture of gratitude to where I am from…
Connections, powerful and meaningful connections. As society pushes us to move forward in a fast changing world, where looking back seems to be meaningless, where the future has such a vital role in everyone’s existence, where values are unclear and lost at times; I find it necessary to stop and reconnect with my past as a gesture of gratitude to where I am from, to stop and embrace my hometown as a sign of appreciation to where I am now, to stop and hope as a hint of aspiration to where I also want to drop by in the future as part of my life.
I can only thank and thank again all my friends and family who took time to be with me, who made it possible for me to reconnect with that part of my life, who spared a few hours to have me back in their lives. I also need to thank my partner who guided me to envisage the importance of connections, of reconnecting.
Jay Cee Moon ©
Jaycee Moon 