It’s never easy being away from home, you’re constantly afraid of missing out on something and no amount of facebook statuses, emails or phone calls, truly alleviate that feeling of being ‘out of the loop’.

Birthdays are the worst, especially the land marks, I missed my sisters 21st Birthday last year which broke my heart.  I cried for days and even when I was filling her birthday box I got emotional.  I also missed my mother in laws 50th and my dads 60th last year,  it’s gut wrenching.

In two days, my not so little baby brother will be turning 18 and I’m missing that too.

We’ve all been through so much these last few years that it’s nice to have something good to celebrate,  something to make us all smile, especially given how far Rowan has come and how much he’s accomplished since leaving St. Colmans – which makes it worse that I’m not there.

Helena threw him a party tonight with friends, family (and a butt load of alcohol – including my favourite, the jaegerbomb!) and while scanning through my facebook page, the tears came fast and free as I came upon pictures from the party, guilt hit me in the stomach and of course the only thing I could think of, was how I should be there – and cry.

I love my family dearly and unconditionally, and I know that they know it.  But I’m not sure they know how proud I am of them all.

My dad, Oliver, has just finished his first year doing an Art course in Newry Tech, at 60 (ish) he wasn’t quite convinced that he could take on the challenge.  I knew he could do it, and he did, he got there and not only did he complete his first year, but he got himself some pretty good grades to boot! He is, however, a lot more understanding on why, when we were in school, we didn’t want to do homework! LOL!  With 4 out of 5 kids with College degrees, dad is set on course to make it a full house!

My sister Helena has turned into such a beautiful young woman, she’s about to graduate from University and embark on a career doing something she loves, teaching her gift to others – and, if you haven’t heard her play, get to it, she’s fantastic.  For the longest time we would fight over whether the sky was blue and it used to drive my dad mad.  Over the last few years, we’ve both grown up a lot and as much as we still have our moments, they are fewer and further between and I’m proud to call her my best friend.  I miss her terribly.

As for Rowan, he’s working hard in Newry Tech, he’s getting good grades and he’s considering going to University to perhaps do Physiotherapy or something related to Sports.  He’s playing football (or Soccer to the Yanks reading) and he’s turning out to be quite the heart throb with the lady folk!

I come from a strong family, both of my older brothers have lived away from home and I too, have always had the travel bug.  However, no one can prepare you for just how difficult it is to be away from your family, especially at birthday time and tonight, there’s no where I’d rather be, than with my brother and sister, in the pub getting (as my sister so eloquently put it on her facebook) ‘blocked’! LOL!