Jill above at 7:06 am wrote that she was “Looking forward to hearing more about your belly button.”
In my desire to learn more of the Hawaiian culture and language, I vaguely recall an expression that translates as approximately “How IS your belly button” .
This simple expression I believe, MEANT “How Are You, really and truly, in a very deep and personally connecting way”, with real and careful interest, far more meaningful than the almost trite “Fine, thanks” that often opens a pleasant, but shallow, conversation.
The intention is to invite a response to share good news or bad in a wide range of circumstances and is reserved for conversations with those with whom one would wish to ”go deeper”, and thus deepen and enrich a friendship.
As I continue to follow your delightful writings, appearances with Steven Colbert, and now Navel Gazings, my wish is to learn “how your Belly Button truly IS” as you continue to reveal subtle clues to your followers here.
Memories of my first time driving on the left side of the road. Also Ireland. Tiny stick shift. I recall coming up on a blind curve, at which point a car had pullled over on the right (wrong) side of the road to relieve himself into a hedge. I almost relieved myself in the car!
I was the passenger in Ireland, my sister being the braver one. My nerves barely survived, but I have a hard time imagining a better place to be on this earth. Welcome home, treasure the memories.
You describe driving in Europe perfectly. The one lane roads are a uniquely terrifying experience. I lost a side view mirror in Ireland in a narrow escape from death. Looking forward to hearing more about your belly button.
John, my wife and I visited Ireland about 13 years ago and had the same driving experience using a Tom-Tom (before GPS) as it took us the most direct routes instead of the scenic ones. My wife kept telling me to move over as the brush on the left side of the car kept hitting the car. Before I left for Ireland I asked my insurance agent if I should insure the car he said "Definitely, no question!".
I actually just suffered a flashback - driving in Ireland, the land of 50 % of my (and my husband’s) ancestors. This was where we decided on our first full day to drive the Ring of Kerry (backwards, it seems) and our young adult children heard their mom drop so many f bombs as we came face to face with a tourist bus, with the obligatory stone wall and hedges on the side. We survived, and they still say it was a good thing Dad wasn’t driving. Love Ireland and glad you had a lovely time there.
Welcome back! If you ever feel the need to practice driving in those conditions before traveling abroad, Independence Pass in Colorado is at your service, complete with surprise bicyclists, occasional pedestrians, and trucks too large to qualify as lorries. Glad you had a good time!
I’m about to start lessons to get a ‘licence’ in Ireland. They shorten the process if you have a US driver’s license, but otherwise ignore how long you’ve been driving in the U.S. (as maybe they should). The written test was no joke (took me two tries to pass) and THEN you can start the driving lessons. I need the licence for insurance purposes since we keep a vehicle there, and I get to drive around with a large scarlet letter ‘L’ on a VW multivan, which means I can’t use the motorways until I get a full licence (seems odd since those are the easiest roads to avoid a head-on game of chicken between hedges). I’ve been driving in Ireland since I was a teenager - my parents would make the kids drive as we bounced between pubs and cousins houses. And I will say that the roads have improved dramatically since Ireland joined the EU - I think the German tourists were like ‘c’mon man, we can’t enjoy our vacations under these conditions - let’s throw some money at this problem’
Do you realize how important it is that you actually read and acknowledge comments on your posts? The time that you take to make this small connection to real people out here is treasured, believe me. "John Dickerson acknowledged my comment"...makes my day.
Gives a whole new meaning to “stay in your lane”!
I’m just here for your great sense of humor. 😉 Love from Minnesota.
Love Minnesota. I went to camp there as a kid.
John, by any chance was it Camp Lincoln / Camp Lake Hubert near Nisswa?
No, it was Camp Mishawaka in Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Aloha John,
Jill above at 7:06 am wrote that she was “Looking forward to hearing more about your belly button.”
In my desire to learn more of the Hawaiian culture and language, I vaguely recall an expression that translates as approximately “How IS your belly button” .
This simple expression I believe, MEANT “How Are You, really and truly, in a very deep and personally connecting way”, with real and careful interest, far more meaningful than the almost trite “Fine, thanks” that often opens a pleasant, but shallow, conversation.
The intention is to invite a response to share good news or bad in a wide range of circumstances and is reserved for conversations with those with whom one would wish to ”go deeper”, and thus deepen and enrich a friendship.
As I continue to follow your delightful writings, appearances with Steven Colbert, and now Navel Gazings, my wish is to learn “how your Belly Button truly IS” as you continue to reveal subtle clues to your followers here.
Mahalo Nui Loa
DMc
Memories of my first time driving on the left side of the road. Also Ireland. Tiny stick shift. I recall coming up on a blind curve, at which point a car had pullled over on the right (wrong) side of the road to relieve himself into a hedge. I almost relieved myself in the car!
My first time driving in Ireland went really well, except for the passenger side mirror...
I was the passenger in Ireland, my sister being the braver one. My nerves barely survived, but I have a hard time imagining a better place to be on this earth. Welcome home, treasure the memories.
You describe driving in Europe perfectly. The one lane roads are a uniquely terrifying experience. I lost a side view mirror in Ireland in a narrow escape from death. Looking forward to hearing more about your belly button.
John, my wife and I visited Ireland about 13 years ago and had the same driving experience using a Tom-Tom (before GPS) as it took us the most direct routes instead of the scenic ones. My wife kept telling me to move over as the brush on the left side of the car kept hitting the car. Before I left for Ireland I asked my insurance agent if I should insure the car he said "Definitely, no question!".
Have had many similar experiences in the English countryside. If I had a dollar for every time my husband yelped, “You’re hitting the hedges!”
I actually just suffered a flashback - driving in Ireland, the land of 50 % of my (and my husband’s) ancestors. This was where we decided on our first full day to drive the Ring of Kerry (backwards, it seems) and our young adult children heard their mom drop so many f bombs as we came face to face with a tourist bus, with the obligatory stone wall and hedges on the side. We survived, and they still say it was a good thing Dad wasn’t driving. Love Ireland and glad you had a lovely time there.
Welcome back John. Sounds like just the break you needed!
Welcome back! If you ever feel the need to practice driving in those conditions before traveling abroad, Independence Pass in Colorado is at your service, complete with surprise bicyclists, occasional pedestrians, and trucks too large to qualify as lorries. Glad you had a good time!
I’m about to start lessons to get a ‘licence’ in Ireland. They shorten the process if you have a US driver’s license, but otherwise ignore how long you’ve been driving in the U.S. (as maybe they should). The written test was no joke (took me two tries to pass) and THEN you can start the driving lessons. I need the licence for insurance purposes since we keep a vehicle there, and I get to drive around with a large scarlet letter ‘L’ on a VW multivan, which means I can’t use the motorways until I get a full licence (seems odd since those are the easiest roads to avoid a head-on game of chicken between hedges). I’ve been driving in Ireland since I was a teenager - my parents would make the kids drive as we bounced between pubs and cousins houses. And I will say that the roads have improved dramatically since Ireland joined the EU - I think the German tourists were like ‘c’mon man, we can’t enjoy our vacations under these conditions - let’s throw some money at this problem’
We are currently in scotland, and the roads are similarly terrifying. Glad you enjoyed your holiday. Now, back to work!
Thanks for the video - I guess they didn’t want to waste good rural pasture space by making the road any wider than necessary😂!
Kudos for surviving left side driving!!
Do you realize how important it is that you actually read and acknowledge comments on your posts? The time that you take to make this small connection to real people out here is treasured, believe me. "John Dickerson acknowledged my comment"...makes my day.
That’s great to hear!
Celebrate paleness! Very jealous of your Ireland journey. I've been there but too long ago. Thanks for your pictures and words.