I was watching an Irish comedian, doing a skit about how us Irish, are not very good at taking a compliment. How it makes us uncomfortable and we usually like to turn it around. Tell us we look good and we'll tell we look awful, Or that you must be blind. But the thing is, it all ties in to our humour, how we have used jokes and laughter to get us through life, to make it that bit easier.
I also watched a clip from a funeral, where the deceased had asked that a recording be played whilst he was being lowered into the ground, in his coffin. Sure it had to be a song, you'd think, one of his favourites. But no, it was the sound of him knocking on wood, telling everyone how they were burying him alive and he couldn't be gotten rid of, that easily. Everyone, instead of crying, where now laughing around his grave.
That to me, is a wonderful example of Irish Humour, turning something tragic into comedy. I may have jumped ahead of myself with that story, as it's a far way away from making a joke out of someone telling you, you look well. But it's all relevant.
I've been back in Ireland now, just over two weeks and it's been wonderful feeling so at ease, taking the piss out of others. To there face of course and mostly with my family. And vice versa. With everything happening in the world right now, it's good to just not take things so seriously. Laughter, is such a great medicine. And yet even that, is being taken from us.
I see it in the face of my two eldest girls, who seem to take offense way too easily. They have softly a lot since being here, which is great. You these days, it's very limited what you can joke about and get away with. If you can't laugh at life, then what's left really.
There is not many people, in Spain that I feel comfortable enough to take the piss with. People get so offended right now and they are always looking over their shoulders. Look I'm not wanting to upset anyone, if you can't joke with someone to their face, then don't joke about them, that's what I believe.
I'd love to see people loosen up a bit. Generally if someone insults you in Ireland, it's a sign that they like you. It's like, when you ask someone to do something and they say " I will, yeah". Then they are not going to do it. It is also in the way they say it, but if yeah is there at the end, it's not happening.
I loved how, us Irish love to keep everyone grounded, don't be letting anyone, get too bigheaded or full of themselves. Having notions about oneself, is frowned upon, no one is better than anyone else. I just love that. I'm not saying we're bloody perfect ( but hey, we're not too far off, LOL). But we are pretty grounded, good at keeping our feet on the ground. That doesn't mean, we are not successful, cos we will celebrate those who do well, as long as they have been down to earth about it.
I have only a few days left before me and my girls return to the heat of Spain. Something I'm not particularly looking forward to, but all our animals are waiting for us and our friends, so it's all good. But it's been good, to come back and remind myself where I have come from and where, I am sure I will return to one day.
