Things Eventually Work Out

24 August 2025

Praise the Lord! I received my passport back this Friday. I had faith that it would arrive, but with my challenging mail delivery, it was a bit of a struggle. Back in May, I retained a law firm to assist with any immigration issues I might encounter. On Friday, I called my lawyer, and she kindly agreed to have my passport sent to their office for safekeeping. We each contacted Irish immigration and requested that my passport be delivered there.

My Passport

As I was heading to my doctor’s appointment—an important visit since it's tough to find a doctor here and I wanted to ensure I was counted among his patients—I came across a younger man checking his mail. I asked him if he could check my mailbox for me, and he found a notice from An Post stating that they were holding a registered letter for me. Today was the last day they would hold it.

I quickly made my way to my doctor's appointment, which thankfully was on time and brief. After leaving the office, I called a cab and soon found myself on the way to An Post to retrieve my letter. Inside, I discovered not only my passport but also a letter granting me permission to remain in Ireland for one year.

With this, I can check two important tasks off my to-do list: getting my passport back and securing a doctor!

You might wonder why I was so anxious to get my passport back. I knew I would eventually receive it, and I was prepared to involve the U.S. Embassy if necessary. Until I got my passport back, I felt like a prisoner here, unable to leave the country—even to return to the U.S. Now that I have it, I can finally relax and handle situations as they come. If situations become too difficult, I can go home.

On Saturday, I was supposed to be in Dublin for the Aer Lingus American College Football Classic, where Kansas State was playing Iowa State. I had a ticket for the game and a hotel reservation. As the date approached, I realized that attending such an event is something best enjoyed with friends, and I wasn't excited about going alone. So, I canceled my train and hotel reservations and stayed in Waterford instead. Besides, I don't have a rooting interest in either team.

The Beginning of a Waterford Crystal Bowl

When Saturday afternoon rolled around, I found myself feeling bored. I decided to take a walk down to the House of Waterford to finally see that renowned establishment. The tour turned out to be quite interesting. I had previously been told that Waterford crystal was no longer manufactured in Waterford, but that information was incorrect. While some pieces are indeed produced in Slovenia, certain items are still made in Waterford. The factory primarily creates bespoke pieces, such as championship trophies and the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball. They even have a just in case room – in case something happens to a trophy or other special piece, they can ship a replacement to you immediately. Everything was stunning—albeit expensive—and the tour was a fascinating experience.

Upon returning home, I found myself facing an empty night. The college football game wasn’t being broadcast in Ireland, and I had tried to find alternative ways to watch college football—I really do enjoy it. Everything I read was quite confusing, but I noticed that some football-related shows were available on YouTube. I pulled YouTube up on my computer, and lo and behold, the Kansas State vs. Iowa State game was streaming live! I settled back with some lasagna and enjoyed the game. Oh, happy day! Additionally, it was raining in Dublin, so I was relieved not to be there, as I would have likely been stuck in my hotel room, perhaps watching the same game.

I’m very impressed with the church I’m attending. This past week, they held prayer meetings at 7:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 19:30 (7:30 p.m.) from Monday through Saturday. I attended two of the 12:30 prayer times, and there were at least 10 to 12 people present each time. What’s particularly remarkable is that young men from Waterford are attending regularly. The prayers from the women's group on Wednesday mornings are especially heartfelt and authentic. I don't know how to explain the feeling when some of these people pray, but I'm glad I'm in the room.

During one of the women's meetings, Emer mentioned that the church had asked her to enter the books in the church library into an online catalog. She seemed somewhat stressed about the task, which isn’t surprising, as Emer appears to be concerned about many things. I finally mentioned that my background is in library work, and we set a time for Tuesday morning to meet and discuss how I might be able to help her.

My weeks are becoming more routine which I think is good.  I do realize that I can be very lonely if I don’t put forth the effort to get involved in the community.  That’s includes being involved in church and other activities, visiting local attractions and even going out to nearby towns and villages.

Today would have been David and my 57th wedding anniversary. I do so wish David was doing this adventure with me.

Waterford Weather:

High 69 F (21 C), Low 61 F ( 16 C)  This week has been partly cloudy

Sunrise  6:26,    Sunset  8:33 (20:33 EU time) Hours of daylight: 14:07

Waterford statue of an American Astronaut made for the 52nd anniversary of the landing on the moon.