Slan Abhaile

Going home to Rochester is always a feat. Especially after being in a city that heightens your energy levels by simply walking on the street vs. sipping some Red Bull. After a day of corresponding with company agents and office debauchery, the smells of the city send a wake-up call like walking into a brick wall. But I digress...

It's about going to Rochester. About slowing the pace of life down a bit.

I'm hesitant to go for various reasons. Yet tomorrow, another fellow and hopefully faithful Craigslist-onian will represent 'us' well. I say 'us', because I believe so many of us search the site for a few reasons - whether they're entertainment, purpose or boredom-based - and so often do we see an ad worthy of a response. Yet our fingers fail to traverse the keyboard, striking keys and composing an answer.

Tomorrow, someone's fingers got the better of them though because I got a response to the ad I posted requesting a rideshare home. Yay. You all know I thrive on the unknown.

Thinking back, a year ago I relaxed in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In a Buddhist country, evidence of Christmas and New Years only exists because of the tourists. I sat eating dinner in an Irish pub, drinking beer for $1.70 and watching the sky light up from lanterns and fireworks. Never had I felt more in the spirit of celebrating. It's ironic, I think. Being in a country surrounded by monks who give versus take...and there I was, loving it all at the crossroads of Eastern faith meeting a Western upbringing. Buddhists believe if one can free themselves from attachments, an unworldly level of happiness will be reached. And now I'm in New York City where it seems not having attachments equals suffering. It's akin to a shopaholic not being able to buy anything.

The title of this post is (c'mon all you Irish lads, correct me!) a phrase seen on signs when exiting more populated cities/towns in Ireland: Slan Abhaile. The literal translation is 'Safe Home'. Tomorrow's a day of traveling for a lot of folk. And wherever you may be reaching out toward, in whatever space you wish to be, I wish you well during this holiday season. I wish you well, always.

Slan Abhaile.