The strongest people in the universe

[ailbhe]

Tabhair dom do lámh Mammy, Linnea, and Nana

I look at this picture every so often, and I feel like I am part of the strongest chain of people in the universe. My daughter's Nana had in her turn a Nana so independent-minded and strong that she defied custom and culture where she lived in London to go home to Ireland, where she did it again to live the life she believed was right for herself and her children. As far back as folk memory goes, women were dealing with tragedy and crisis, wars and diseases that killed their husbands and their children, poverty and hunger and homelessness, and every single one has a funny story about her, something to show that she faced it all with courage and humour and the fierce love some mothers have for their children, putting them before everyone and everything else, so that they can be the very best people they can be.

It's a lot to live up to, but I'm going to have fun trying.