Sunday, June 22, 2025

Ain't Diversity Great?

One of the truly delightful things about the Irish culture is their ability to put a bit of amusement into a potentially divisive issue.  Or, when the world turns to an unholy mess, to find a way to spin a yarn and make it into a hilarious story.

Now, a couple of days ago, we were in Portstewart, in Northern Ireland. This lovely town, with a picture perfect beach, was a welcome stop in the midst of a particularly long driving day.  

But what goes along with particularly long driving days?  The inevitable search for the loo (trust me, over here, that can be an adventure).  As soon as we made landfall (beachfall?), the search began.

After a bit of exploration, we came across the Facilities, back behind the chipper (translation: french fries stand).  And lo and behold, there at the entrance to said Head was this SIGN.

Back where we come from, everyone is freaking out about your gender (and, if truth be told, a whole lot of other things, too).  But how delightful to be confronted with this bit of whimsy when in need of the Necessary Room.  

It served as a lesson we might learn from this land where humor is held in much higher esteem: smile, do your business, and get on with life.  

We leave Ireland soon, for our next leg: the Netherlands.  But make no mistake about it – the humor, the welcome, the tongue-in-cheek, wreck-your-head dry wit of this land continues to beckon us back.  And back we will come.

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