I have been humbled by a 5 year old.
My eldest niece, Olivia, has made me feel like I should be doing something. I will be looking for a local charity here in San Francisco (suggestions welcome) to somehow raise money for. I do not know how I will do this, but I will be thinking about it greatly over the next few weeks.
The reason for this, as I have said, is my niece. Olivia was watching tv back home in Nottingham and saw and ad/commercial (delete as appropriate to your take on English) for a charity called CAFOD - Catholic Agency For Overseas Development. In the ad she saw young children starving and it upset her. She wanted to know why they had no food and she had enough. It wasn't fair. She turned to my Sister and said: "Mummy, I want to help those children. Can I raise money for them?" Michelle asked her how she wanted to do it. "Daddy ran a marathon, can I do that?"
So this Sunday, September 30th 2012, my 5 year old niece is running a mini-marathon to raise money. She will run 1.5miles and so far has raised over £500 (her target was £100). She has spoken in Churches, at school, and she has a just giving page:
http://www.justgiving.com/Olivia-Brogan
Please, if you can sponsor her. She is such an inspiration to me.
Maybe one day, I'll be half the wonderful person she is. Maybe. One day.
Friday, 28 September 2012
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Silence
Some say it is golden. I think it's more like crystal; ready to shatter at a moments notice.
Perhaps I blogged too soon!
At 4am it ended!
Perhaps I blogged too soon!
At 4am it ended!
At 3.26am it finally happened.
The beginning of the school year is one of the busiest times I have in my role as Director of Youth Ministry at St Cecilia Catholic Church in San Francisco. One of the main responsibilities I hold is to lead the Youth Group at the parish, it is never dull I can tell you!
So our largest activity, and first of the academic year, is the annual SCYG (St Cecilia Youth Group) Lock-In. Essentially 78 teenagers, 2 male chaperones, 1 female chaperone, an unwitting friend, and I, "locked in" to our school's pavilion (sports hall for the English reader). I get no sleep at all. I find myself on tenter hooks as my charges sleep and, perchance dream.
The build up is nothing less than a roller coaster ride of fun, sports, a film or two, Mass, and lots of catching up. Spirits are high to say the least! So, it comes to the time of the evening when I turn the lights down and watch. Groups form circles with their heads together, lying in sleeping bags, and telling ghost stories, jokes, etc. it is difficult for young people to settle in this kind of situation. It is expected and I rather enjoy seeing them all interact.
But...sleep. For them, not me. I am responsible for these kids, and I imagine this is what a parent feels like when their child is at a party, or children are at their house visiting. I sit up, watch over my charges, and feel a sense of fulfillment. I came half way across the world for this job. Listening to the sound of 78 young people sleeping, I don't know. It may sound weird, but it makes me smile.
At 3.26am it finally happened.
So our largest activity, and first of the academic year, is the annual SCYG (St Cecilia Youth Group) Lock-In. Essentially 78 teenagers, 2 male chaperones, 1 female chaperone, an unwitting friend, and I, "locked in" to our school's pavilion (sports hall for the English reader). I get no sleep at all. I find myself on tenter hooks as my charges sleep and, perchance dream.
The build up is nothing less than a roller coaster ride of fun, sports, a film or two, Mass, and lots of catching up. Spirits are high to say the least! So, it comes to the time of the evening when I turn the lights down and watch. Groups form circles with their heads together, lying in sleeping bags, and telling ghost stories, jokes, etc. it is difficult for young people to settle in this kind of situation. It is expected and I rather enjoy seeing them all interact.
But...sleep. For them, not me. I am responsible for these kids, and I imagine this is what a parent feels like when their child is at a party, or children are at their house visiting. I sit up, watch over my charges, and feel a sense of fulfillment. I came half way across the world for this job. Listening to the sound of 78 young people sleeping, I don't know. It may sound weird, but it makes me smile.
At 3.26am it finally happened.
Friday, 14 September 2012
If you're not the one...
Yes. I did it. Daniel Bedingfield. I will not apologise.
Have you ever found a person you were so sure was the mythical "one"? I have. Many, MANY times. In fact, there is usually one person in my immediate presence (I use this term loosely as I am referring to ease with which we communicate these days) who, whilst talking or texting or emailing, I am thinking of completely. I have a few people in my life who fit this bill and gain an all encompassing focus from me. I am going to attempt to discover why this happens.
I think I am a fairly good reader of people, I also have a great many things that I look for in a person in order for me to like and trust them. I think I got this from the attitudes of my family members. We have an inherent want to protect each other and automatically weigh up new people as they come into our group (probably the reason we have such wonderful in-laws). So, I know when I meet someone that I will like them. Simple...right? Not really. I find that I become attached to people very easily and I seem to have surrounded myself with a very reliable group of friends. It is wonderful.
It does however have a huge drawback if you put it into the context of my title. I have a few very close female friends whom I have come to think I would like to be with. The problem is this: we're so close, they don't want to wreck our relationship. That, or they don't look at me like that, I'm the one they can always talk to.
So, "if you're not the one..." who is? Perhaps it is time for me to change my ways...either that or wait.
Have you ever found a person you were so sure was the mythical "one"? I have. Many, MANY times. In fact, there is usually one person in my immediate presence (I use this term loosely as I am referring to ease with which we communicate these days) who, whilst talking or texting or emailing, I am thinking of completely. I have a few people in my life who fit this bill and gain an all encompassing focus from me. I am going to attempt to discover why this happens.
I think I am a fairly good reader of people, I also have a great many things that I look for in a person in order for me to like and trust them. I think I got this from the attitudes of my family members. We have an inherent want to protect each other and automatically weigh up new people as they come into our group (probably the reason we have such wonderful in-laws). So, I know when I meet someone that I will like them. Simple...right? Not really. I find that I become attached to people very easily and I seem to have surrounded myself with a very reliable group of friends. It is wonderful.
It does however have a huge drawback if you put it into the context of my title. I have a few very close female friends whom I have come to think I would like to be with. The problem is this: we're so close, they don't want to wreck our relationship. That, or they don't look at me like that, I'm the one they can always talk to.
So, "if you're not the one..." who is? Perhaps it is time for me to change my ways...either that or wait.
Thursday, 13 September 2012
Inspired to write...
A good friend of mine, in fact one of the few people I know I can always rely on, has been blogging with immense gusto recently. He is the one who inspired me to write this blog, and it is fitting that reading his recent entries, I am inspired once more.
The issue I have is that I'm not sure what to write. I have usually used this as a diary of sorts, occasionally trying to dispel myths with regards to my beliefs. I think though, I want to talk about the thing that means the most to me in the world: My Family.
I had the best summer. My Mam, Dad, and little brother came to visit me in San Francisco. This was a multi-edged sword for me. It was great to have them here and be able to show them my life, how happy I am, etc. but it meant that I didn't go home. I still refer to sunny Nottingham as home. I've lived here for 2 years and 5 months. It is a great place, I have wonderful friends, and I love my job. But still, it's not home. I had been kidding myself into referring to it as such. Still not quite there.
I think the reason I, and maybe many, operate like this is the people with whom we associate home. I had 3 of them here this summer but missed the rest all the more. I find myself looking to the future, to December 10th to be precise. When I fly off home to see them all. Things like this (from my niece) do NOT help!
Let's be a little more upbeat for a second. I had the best time with the few who were here. I did things I've never done here before...which includes jumping from a horse to stop from being thrown from it! Showing people what I am about really showed me how wonderful California is. There is no end of things to do here and I've honestly only just begun exploring. I can't wait to have the rest of them visit so I can continue to explore.
The reason for this rambling blog entry is becoming clear to me. I miss my family, I don't call this home yet, but I love it here. Maybe all that's missing is a family of my own. I guess we will see how that turns out soon enough.
I am looking to the future with excitement for many different reasons. This blog may even start to have some substance other than my own personal problems!
Oh, and yes. My nieces and nephews call me Uncle BooBoo. Long story.
The issue I have is that I'm not sure what to write. I have usually used this as a diary of sorts, occasionally trying to dispel myths with regards to my beliefs. I think though, I want to talk about the thing that means the most to me in the world: My Family.
I had the best summer. My Mam, Dad, and little brother came to visit me in San Francisco. This was a multi-edged sword for me. It was great to have them here and be able to show them my life, how happy I am, etc. but it meant that I didn't go home. I still refer to sunny Nottingham as home. I've lived here for 2 years and 5 months. It is a great place, I have wonderful friends, and I love my job. But still, it's not home. I had been kidding myself into referring to it as such. Still not quite there.
I think the reason I, and maybe many, operate like this is the people with whom we associate home. I had 3 of them here this summer but missed the rest all the more. I find myself looking to the future, to December 10th to be precise. When I fly off home to see them all. Things like this (from my niece) do NOT help!
Let's be a little more upbeat for a second. I had the best time with the few who were here. I did things I've never done here before...which includes jumping from a horse to stop from being thrown from it! Showing people what I am about really showed me how wonderful California is. There is no end of things to do here and I've honestly only just begun exploring. I can't wait to have the rest of them visit so I can continue to explore.
The reason for this rambling blog entry is becoming clear to me. I miss my family, I don't call this home yet, but I love it here. Maybe all that's missing is a family of my own. I guess we will see how that turns out soon enough.
I am looking to the future with excitement for many different reasons. This blog may even start to have some substance other than my own personal problems!
Oh, and yes. My nieces and nephews call me Uncle BooBoo. Long story.
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