‘She’s Coming Home!’ Evanne Ní Chuilinn on a Very Special Arrival, and Families Spread Across the Globe

The wee man’s granddad has a shoulder that’s riddled with calcite, his daddy is complaining of a dodgy knee, which is in turn testing his aging hip, (and my patience), but all Séimí wants from her is a cuddle.

We are expecting a very special visitor on Friday, and her arrival is all the more exciting because we haven’t seen her since I was rolling myself around the place and eating for 2 (or 12) last Christmas. My little sister has been living and working in a land far, far away for the past two years. She has magic hands, has cured many an ailment for me in the past, and even if everyone else wants to her home to sort out that niggling back pain, I am just dying for her to meet her first nephew. Séimí’s aunty Áine, the physio, is moving home.

I started thinking this week about the number of Irish babies who have yet to meet their aunties and uncles, or grannies and granddads. All those kids whose various family members have been forced to emigrate in order to find work. It’s a sad state of affairs, and an ever-increasing reality. 

My little sister was the first person I told when I found out I was expecting. Himself and myself were on holidays, and visited her as part of our trip. The “death warmed up” look that I was sporting last August was not easily concealed. I had to nap at least once a day, (which for an insomniac is just all wrong), and more importantly, she couldn’t take me to all the fancy cocktail bars atop skyscrapers. I wasn’t taking a drink anyway, but this particular part of our itinerary became null and void soon after my arrival, mostly because I would fall asleep before it was time to go out. Áine was obviously delighted for us, she felt honoured that we had told her first, but frustrated that she too would now have to keep such a spectacular secret for another 6 weeks! But her attention soon turned to a time 7 months down the line. A time during which she knew it would be almost impossible for her to come home.

Isn’t Skype a wonderful invention?

Everybody has someone living abroad. Even over the course of the last 2 years, I’ve had a sister in Singapore, and I still have an Uncle in Japan and a best friend in Melbourne. Twenty years ago, I’d never have been able to introduce my little boy to these significant people in my life. They might see a photograph – which nobody bothers to print anymore – but that would be the height of it. My little man loves the camera. We did a photo shoot for VIP magazine last week and he stole the show. He’s like those high fashion models. “Give me happy, yes Séimí, give me ecstatic”. Done.  He’s a pro. It was no surprise so that he took to Skype so well. Áine has seen his coos and giggles, but I’m sure she’s as excited as I am for these two special people to meet in person. Hurry home Aunty Áine, and I know you’ll be plagued with requests for rub downs, but all I want is a hug.

Chat next week friends. 

E x

 

***On reflection, I have noticed a dull ache in my left shoulder since the wee man started solids. Catch ya Friday Áine!!