Blind Summit: A Reflection Sponsored By Irish Road Signs

It has been a little over a week since I arrived in Ireland again, this time with my mom who had been eagerly awaiting a trip to visit Ireland ever since I first arrived — what a gift that she was finally able to make it here. This year’s arrival looked much different than last October when I arrived in Dublin for my first year with Teach Bhríde. I didn’t have to immediately enter into a two week quarantine, which means I didn’t get to just lay around and do nothing until my jet lag wore off. This time around, I did the total opposite of “nothing” as my moms’ plans were to head to County Fermanagh to hike the Stairway to Heaven the day after our flight landed. Talk about sweating off our jet lag! As a fellow traveler said to us in passing while gasping for air, the Stairway to Heaven “felt more like hell.” Regardless of the unexpected intensity because I simply did not research this hike beforehand and had no idea what it even was, it was well worth the blisters and sore limbs to cross another thing off of my mom’s “Ireland Bucket List” and to see a beautiful area of the country.

While driving to the Stairway to Heaven, HoB alum/my friend, Katherine Dunn, and I pointed out some signs that lined the road that were unfamiliar to our American road signs. There were sheep crossing signs, cattle crossing signs, and even elderly people crossing signs that showed depictions of what appeared to be elderly folk with words in bold print stating, “ELDERLY PEOPLE” underneath (I included a photo for reference because I just thoroughly enjoyed this sign). Our favorite sign, though, and the one that sparked the most reaction from us read “BLIND SUMMIT.” Typically when these “blind summit” signs appeared, that meant that my foot was pressing the invisible brake on the passenger side of the car, my mom was probably clutching the car handle in the backseat, and Katherine was…well…I’d say she is a pro at driving in this country now, so she was doing just fine. (Thank you, Katherine). If it were my mom on the other hand? Lori would be white knuckling the steering wheel, praying for her dear life, and I’d be reciting Hail Mary’s in the seat next to her. (So thank you again, Katherine, for driving!!!)

For those who don’t know (I didn’t at first, either), blind summit signs depict a point on the road when your vehicle is

approaching the top of a hill and you cannot quite see the other vehicles that are approaching up

the other side of the hill. They aren’t THAT terrifying, but for Americans driving on the other side of the car and road, I’d say we have some validities to our caution and nerves when approaching these summits.

Despite the initial fear of this so called, “blind summit,” and the uncertainty of what we were heading towards, all of us in the car were giggling a bit about the elegant wording used to describe this landmark. In America they’d just print, “Hill Blocks View,” on a sign instead. I’d choose “blind summit” over “hill blocks view” any day. It’s just more fun, am I right??! I enjoyed this phrase so much that while journaling one evening after our adventure, I couldn’t help but title my first journal entry of the year, “Blind Summit.” It turns out that this phrase really helped me to unpack some thoughts and emotions I was having about year two with the House of Brigid. My reflective mind always loves a good metaphor! So, I will start off my blog posts of the year in the same way that I ended them last year, with a glimpse into my journal…

BLIND SUMMITThis year will be an adventure, I am sure of it. I am not fully aware of what I am heading towards on my journey this year. I don’t know what emotions I will feel, revelations or realizations I may have, obstacles I will face, or events that will occur. The blind summit that’s ahead is one that will most likely shock me, catch me off guard, make me white knuckle in anxiety at times on the steering wheel, and cry after hitting bumps on the road. However, I trust that it will lead me to places where I will experience beauty and laughter over the twists and turns that the avenues entail. When driving along a blind summit you have to take it slow and be cautious of any danger that could be ahead, but you’re also able to focus your eyes on the open road with capturing scenes to the left and right, with friends in the car to lift you up and move forward with you, and with an adventure awaiting ahead that is worth all the initial anxieties and fears. I’m really excited to cruise along the roads of Teach Bhríde 2021-2022. I have my nerves, I have my fears, but I am confident that there will always be laugher, joy, curiosity, and eagerness that will keep me gliding along these open roads.