Summer of Lewis

The night I was on a plane over the Atlantic, Prince Caspian premiered in America. For four weeks, I probably didn't go more than a day or two without mentioning how much I wanted to see it. Every now and then I would check surfthechannel.com or tv-links.cc to see if it was available--it was each time--but I knew I would never watch it bootleg on a scratchy internet connection.

Though I didn't even take myself seriously half the times I said that Prince Caspian was number 1 on my to-do list for when I got back to the States, I did go see it the day after I got back. Not even a full 24 hours had passed since I landed in Columbia to when I bought my ticket! There were a few major changes, one subplot in particular, from the book to the film. I vaguely expected to be annoyed, even angered by the changes from the book I loved so much, but I was utterly swept away by the movie. I knew the new subplot (nope, I won't be writing any spoilers) and other changes had not been taken lightly by the actors or the crew, and they were changes I understood. I am intrigued to see how the changes Disney and Walden made to Prince Caspian will affect the next movie they plan: Voyage of the Dawn-Treader.

I just finished the Dawn-Treader today-- I loved it, of course. I read the Narnia books as a child in a haphazard order with little attention to more than the plot, and certainly without the critical eye (in the literary sense) that I have today, nor an appreciation for the religious symbolism and allegory. So I have been rereading the series from beginning to end this summer. I even reread the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, which is the one I've read so many times since childhood. In Ireland, I read The Horse and His Boy, and reread Prince Caspian.

Next is the Silver Chair, of which I remember very little from my childhood reading. Though Eustace isn't my favorite character, I did grow fond of him after finishing Dawn-Treader. I'm excited to revisit his story and meet Jill again.

I'm wary to approach The Last Battle again. I remember it broke my heart as child, because I was too distracted by Peter's words about Susan to see the beauty in the ending. But I read a remark from C.S. Lewis himself on her:

"The books don't tell us what happened to Susan. She is left alive in this world at the end, having by then turned into a rather silly, conceited young woman. But there's plenty of time for her to mend and perhaps she will get to Aslan's country in the end... in her own way."

Lewis wrote this in his Letters to Children. Lewis's remark makes it unmistakably clear that she either survived or was not involved in the train crash, but is the lone Pevensie left in the world after it. I tend imagine the process of grieving would have been harsh and long, but that when she was lonely and old enough to be a child again, she would, like Lewis said, mend, and get to Aslan and the others. Her story is not a tragedy because it is not finished, and that is the greatest hope for Susan.

***

The Narnia series will always be dear to me, but this summer, I'm not just revisiting Narnia but studying Lewis' other works as well, such as Mere Christianity and others. These are more difficult, but I take joy in reading these works as well. Leaving the glitter of fantasy for gritty reality is much like leaving Narnia for England, I suppose.

On that note, one of my favorite moments in all of Narnia-verse came at the end of The Dawn-Treader. Aslan tells Edmund and Lucy that they will not be returning to Narnia.

"You are too old, children," said Aslan, "and you must begin to come close to your own world now."

"It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. "It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?"

"But you shall meet me, dear one," said Aslan.

"Are-- are you there too, Sir?" said Edmund.

"I am," said Aslan. "But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there."

"Already I'm So Lonesome..."

"My bags are packed, I'm ready to go.
I'm standing here outside your door,
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye...

The dawn is breaking, its early morn,
the taxi's waiting, blowing his horn,
already I'm so lonesome I could die...

So kiss me and smile for me,
tell me that you'll wait for me,
hold me like you'll never let me go.

Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

________________

I'm continually surprised by the people stong enough to break through the walls I've so carefully erected around my heart. Four weeks ago, I didn't know a single one of these people, but only 28 days later, I have struggled to maintain my precious composure as I say goodbye after goodbye. Four girls in particular, I can't imagine not seeing every day.

I've seen them at their worst and their best; we laughed often, complained often, stuck to each other like glue from the minutes we met in the airport four weeks ago. And now we've all tried to hold the tears back as we hug goodbye, uncertain of the next time we should meet. I've watched taxi's drive away, and later today, I will have to watch Kasey walk away to her gate as I part with her for mine. It's harder than I thought it would be to say goodbye to these new friends whom I've known for so short a time.

I've never doubted that God wanted me here this summer, though I've often wondered why, when there were so many other things I could be doing, so many events I missed in the States for this trip. But right now, sitting on my bed in Dublin, a city that was feeling like home, my housemate Kasey asleep on the "Conversation Bed", at 6 am with the birds singing and the sun struggling to break it through the blinds we closed... I know. It was not only for the experience of Dublin and the culture, but to meet these people, make these friends and learn a lesson in endurance and farewells. Also, to teach me even more how much I have back home in America to miss and love and cherish.

I think I will make it through the day without crying. I can only hope to fall asleep on my trans-Atlantic so my mind doesn't have the chance to run wild like it is now! And I know that I'll be okay, that I can say goodbye with a smile, knowing that we will be in contact and knowing that we will be working on a reunion. And, I can be okay, ready, even excited to go, knowing that my parents and brother, friends and family, will be waiting with open arms.

Thank God for new friends, lessons learned, and home on the horizon.

Return Flight Info

Hey, everyone! Tomorrow is my last day in Ireland, and Saturday, I'll be in the airport by 10:30 or 11, so for all intents and purposes, tomorrow is my last day period. I'm sad to leave everyone, but ready to be home.

Here is my flight info.

US Airways

Flight 723: Depart Dublin at 2:35 pm, arrive in Philadelphia at 5:10 pm (Eastern Standard Time)

Flight 939: Depart Philadelhpia at 7:05 pm, arrive in Charlotte, NC at 9:00pm

Flight 4365: Depart Charlotte, NC at 10:25 pm, arrive in Columbia at 11:15 pm.

I am annoyed to have a layover in Charlotte that is twice as long as the flight itself. How stupid. But whatever, it was the cheapest way to go, and these layovers were the shortest.

So, I know it is a late arrival (and in my head, it will feel like 4 in the morning, AND I probably won't have slept the night before, AND I probably won't sleep well on the plane, so don't expect sympathy from me, LOL) but I would love to see people there. Clearly, my mom and dad and brother (especially brother) are required to come or else (yes, even you, Dad!) but if anyone else is in town and doesn't mind a late night, I would love to see some familiar faces when I get off the plane in Columbia!

Just Pictures

Kilkenny Castle

Rothe House and Gardens

Cool sign!

Tower... Climbed this!



Mellefont Abbey Chapterhouse Window

Cross from Monasterboice

View from top of the Tower in Kilkenny

Climbing down these crazy stairs in the tower!

St. Canice Cathedral--lovely!


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So these pictures are in no logical order and come from a variety of places, though the majority are from today, when our class took a day trip to Kilkenny, and then went to a pub for a send off dinner! :-)

Some Trips, and our Last Hurrah!

It's only Wednesday night, but tonight, our Student Director took almost all of us out to dinner at a really cool pub, where we got three courses plus live music and dancing! It was such a great time. And this was a great way to end the day we spent in Kilkenny with our class! As soon as we got back from that trip, we're dropped off at the pub for a great night.

The pub from tonight was called Merry Ploughboy's-- google it. It was such a great time. When they asked for volunteers to sing, my friends pointed and tried to get me go, but lucky for me, I was on the inside corner of a booth, so I simply couldn't get out. ;-)

In a seperate entry (I'm on a roll, three in one night) I'll post just the pictures and video footage I took tonight and the past few days.

Here's a brief recap of what's gone on-- Sunday was a lazy day. I don't believe we left the house at all. Each Sunday I've considered trying to get to church, but as I am the lone Protestant (not to mention my very lacking sense of direction), I've chosen to celebrate privately these Sundays. :-) And since this coming Sunday is Father's day, and despite the fact that I will be most likely be super-messed up due to jet lag and lack of sleep, I am going to attempt to be at my home church! :-)

Monday-- Our class went to visit a few sights in area--we were going to go to the National Gallery of Modern Art, but sadly, the exhibits were closed on Mondays! So we wondered the grounds aimlessly waiting for our bus to return. After that we visited Kilamein Jail (I have no idea how to spell that). It was a solemn but very interesting site! Also, I finished my paper on Monasterboice that night. Did I post pics of Monasterboice? I think I did on Facebook.

Tuesday-- Class, where we had a guest lecturer, who was a retired EU official and diplomat. He gave an interesting perspective on the upcoming (and very big deal!) vote on the Lisbon Treaty. Google it--the vote is tomorrow!

Today, Kilkenny and the pub! Today was a good day, for sure.

Tomorrow-- Last day of class-- turning our essays and taking a test. Also, we might be going out for a last hurrah that night. I suppose I will go, though it is always awkward being the only one who doesn't drink. It will be my last real night with everyone, as we'll be staying in the house and packing, etc, on Friday night. We'll see how it goes. :-)

I have loved my time here, but home is sounding sweeter and sweeter.