Diary Friday

And now … the continuing story … of “Piiiiiigs iiiiiiin spaaaaaace” ….

No, just kidding. The continuing story of the O’Malley jaunt in Ireland. To add to the Diary Friday archive. Otherwise known as: archive of Sheila’s shame.

IRELAND

We got up and after breakfast everyone else went to the zoo but I didn’t feel like it. [Ah. Adolescence. Sheila: go to the damn zoo with your family.] I listened to my music tape and did the exercises that “Seventeen suggests for “my body type”. [That literally has to be one of the most embarrassing sentences I have ever written in my life.]

When they came back, everyone was so excited and kept saying, “Oh, you should have come!” There were hippoes and elephants and tigers and polar bears and seals. [Sheila, of course there were. IT WAS A ZOO. ] Mum said I could go some other time. They also brought me back a delicious refreshing strawberry popsicle. [I have made the observation before – about these Ireland journal entries – that FOOD plays a huge part. It’s in every entry, to some degree.]

A few hours after the zoo, Dad came in to me and Jean’s room and asked if any of us wanted to go into Dublin with him. Of course, we said yes!!!!!! So did Bren. We went down the street to the busstop until a big yellow doubledecker came along. We sat in the first seats on the top. It was so neat. We leaned our elbows on the ledge and watched from so high.

We got off in the middle of the city and for one terrible panicky split-second, we thought that Jean hadn’t got off the bus. But she was right behind us. Oh, it was so scary!!!!!

We walked around the block and Dad pointed out the huge Post Office to us, and we didn’t really do anything – just hurrying around on the sidewalk, and looking at all the busses and people. That last one is the most fun: pink hair, leopard pants, crewcuts on the girls, etc. [Heh. Remember – this is the early 80s.]

We went to a fabulous cafe. [Here comes more food descriptions] I had a marvelous leg of chicken that I drenched with vinegar and a sweet scone, with a Coke. It was just so good!!!!!!!!!! [Yes. There are that many exclamation points.] I really liked that place. Everything was perfect.

After, we looked at the Abbey Theatre, with all the posters. I think we are going to see “The Doll’s House”. [Odd coincidence – “The Doll’s House” will be playing at the Abbey this year in April and May as well.]

All these little kids in filly dresses and party shoes came by from Sunday School and we saw this doubledecker bus with smarties all over it!!! [I literally do not know what this means. Smarties, as in the candy? And if that’s the case … why would this engender SUCH AN EXCITED RESPONSE????]

We checked in a newsagent store, but there were no books, so we went back to catch a bus home.

We talked to Mum and I read Circus of Adventure to Jean for a while. [Ah yes. Enid Blyton. I STILL have that book.]

Mum came in with her new kilt on. It looked TERRIFIC on her!!! She and Dad were going to see Francis Stewart tonight!!! I am SO EXCITED for Dad!!!

Jean and I gave Mum some fashion advice and told her to change her green jersey for a white one and put on her black blazer. She looked so sophisticated.

Mum told us that a good movie was on tonight: A Whale for the Killing. And they left us with Sugar Smacks, Cokes, and chocolate. [BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Mum and Dad – this cracks me UP!! Leaving us in the B&B surrounded by chocolate and caffeine. ]

After they left, the four of us crowded around the TV to watch this quiz show. My God, the people on it were so smart. People in America couldn’t have answered half of those questions!!! But it was stupid anyway. [Eh … Sheila … why the sudden judgment?]

After that, we watched Tom & Jerry. Big thrills.

I left immediately and brushed my teeth and put in my elastics and listened to a tape. [I am SO ANTISOCIAL. It’s a wonder my siblings love me at all. Oh, and “put in my elastics” gave me a bit of a pause … until I realized that that must have been to do with the braces on my teeth.] Jean came in to tell me it was on.

I settled down in a comfy arm chair with a bowl of Sugar Smacks. [HAHAHAHAHA]

Let me say something about that movie — it was fabulous. It was incredible. It almost made me cry. [Has anyone else seen this movie? It made such an impression on me that I remember certain scenes from it almost word for word.] Peter Strouse is gorgeous – but even more than that, he is just so wonderful. OH I LOVED IT!!!!! The whale was like a person. It was like Peter Strouse fell in love with it almost. It really opened my eyes. And I am really proud that my name is on a petition to save the whales that is now in Washington somewhere. [The “in Washington somewhere” cracks my heart a bit. A trusting faith in my own wee voice and in my ability to make a difference. But the petition is “in Washington somewhere“. Uh – where, Sheila? Do you know? On a random bureaucrat’s desk gathering dust?]

It was just a marvelous movie. I have got to get the book – if there is one, I mean.

We had a great time tonight and we also had a few laughs during the commercials.

Good night. [Amazing we were able to get to sleep at all, after gorging ourselves on Sugar Smacks and Coke!]