Chapter 11 – Seizures, sunrises and sunsets

Hey everyone—long time no see! I’ve been flying under the radar for a while, but I finally feel ready to pick up the thread and continue telling my story. A lot has happened, and it’s about time we caught up. So here’s my best attempt at highlighting the key moments from the end of 2023!

After Jessie and I decided to explore the UK together, we set off on an adventure that took us through many historic sites and breathtaking landscapes, though not without a few unexpected health scares to spice things up.

Over time, I’ve come to really appreciate the magic of travel; how it shifts your perspective, awakens your soul, it answers some of your questions (while raising even more!).

I think of it like a colourful tapestry, full of detail. It starts with the people you meet—they’re at the center of it all. Then it grows, picking up the cultures you experience and the unexpected moments that give it character. The good and bad times add contrast, making the whole thing feel alive.

Traveling with your partner can (and should) be both exciting and a little intimidating, especially early on when you’re still learning about each other. It shines a light on the qualities you admire in them: their outlook, values, passions, and temperament. But it also can reveal the less glamorous stuff—how they handle stress, compromise, and adapt to the unexpected. These things tend to come out eventually, whether you mean them to or not, and they can really change a relationship, for better or worse.

Thankfully, between Jessie and I, everything just seemed to click. We got on effortlessly, complementing each other’s strengths. Jessie seemed to have picked up on our connection right away. She’s a good judge of character, and luckily, I passed her “not a serial killer” test 😂. Our personalities just worked, balanced and in sync.

We took every chance to dive deep into conversation, talking about philosophy, psychology, world events, dreams, and even childhood TV shows. (Surprisingly, we didn’t have much crossover there. I blamed growing up in Ireland with only six TV channels. Jessie blamed the age gap. 😡)

Whether we were curled up in cosy forest cabins, chatting in charming cafes, or laughing in noisy Scottish pubs, those conversations, packed into just a few months, laid the foundation for our relationship.

We traveled through the UK, taking in the sights with fresh eyes, soaking up the history, the landscapes, and the little quirks of each place that made it feel unique. Every stop had something to teach us.

A major highlight for me was our trip to the Scottish Highlands. Standing by the shores of Loch Ness, we were awed by the wild, primal beauty of the land, and its glacial scars etched into the rocks. (No Nessie sightings, sadly. 😣)

From there, we crossed over the Irish Sea to my homeland in northwest Ireland. I took Jessie on walking tours in both Derry and Belfast. I was curious to see what she would make of the deep political undercurrents still present just beneath the surface. Even today, you can still feel the weight of history in the murals, memorials and Flags, so the past never feels too far away. (Perhaps there is a life message in this somewhere about gazing in the rear view mirror too much to be present in the here and now.)

It was interesting to experience it as an ex-local, and I personally felt the guides did a great job of remaining balanced. Despite dealing with some heavy topics.

I think Jessie was a bit overwhelmed at times by how dark our history is. (I did remind her that hers is not that much better.)

To lighten it up a bit, we then made a few social calls to introduce Jessie to my friends and family.

In my hometown of Omagh, I showed her my childhood haunts, my old school, and even where I had my first job. At one time I was Omagh’s finest Sandwich ‘crafter’ (I made a mean triple club, and you should have seen me in my prime).

We thought it would be fun to visit the Ulster American Folk Park and follow the story of Irish emigration to America, reflecting on the deep ties between our two countries. It’s a brilliant place—one of those local gems you almost take for granted when you’re from Omagh.

The park traces the journey of the Irish people, starting with the kind of homes they would have lived in before leaving, through the hardships of the sea voyage, and on to the lives they built in the New World. Walking through it with Jessie gave me a fresh appreciation for the story and its connection to both our histories.

To round out the trip, it was Jessie’s turn to welcome me into her world. She invited me to meet her family in New Hampshire, USA during peak autumn. Her family greeted me with warmth and generosity.

Her dad, Brian, introduced me to the world of premium coffee. Each morning, he guided me through his collection of coffee machines like a barista in a high-end cafe. He’d often wake up early for sunrise hikes and always invited me along. Her mum, Theresa, was incredibly thoughtful—adapting recipes to suit my low-carb/keto diet, which I still follow to help manage my seizures in check. We frequently spent our morning coffees in conversation about many random things.

Jessie’s older sister, Kirsten, and her younger brother, Lee, were equally welcoming. They, together with Jessie, put together a thoughtful welcome pack of goodies that New Hampshire is known for (Dunkin Donuts, maple syrup, etc.)

Add in two excitable Labradors and a laid-back cat, and you’ve got quite the household.

Todd (Kirsten’s Husband), Brian and I often found ourselves up a trail or out in the garden bonding over archery, or target practice/ ‘Plinking’. All of this made me feel incredibly at home. I never felt like an outsider.

The thing I took away from this was that the true ‘magic’ of a journey isn’t just the places you go, it’s the memories you all make together.

Of course, the journey wasn’t all smooth sailing. As I mentioned earlier, I experienced several seizures along the way.

Most were my usual type which I had learned how to deal with by now. It was while I was staying in the US I had one worst episodes I’d ever had 🙄. It was a cluster of seizures that left me disoriented—and at one point, even turning blue.

Jessie and her parents rushed me to the ER, where I had another seizure just as they were wheeling me through the doors. (At least it got me past the queue 😂). The care was excellent but expensive—IV meds, a head CT, bloodwork…the premium service came with a premium price. I hate to think if they hadn’t of acted so quickly what would have happened.

Looking back, the change in time zones and disruption to my routine probably contributed to that episode. Lesson learned…

Still, we carried on. That experience, frightening as it was, only deepened our resilience and brought us closer. It reminded me that life is unpredictable—but with the right person beside you, even the scariest moments are manageable.

As our travels wound down, my thoughts turned to returning to work, a daunting but necessary step in regaining my independence and financial stability.

January 2024 was spent filled with mixed emotions: eagerness to reclaim my GOC (General Optical Council) license, anxiety about stepping back into practice, and more than a little impostor syndrome. Could I still perform at the same level as before? Was my communication good enough? Was my brain quick enough? I couldn’t be entirely sure. But alongside the uncertainty, there was a powerful sense of determination. Time would tell.

After everything I’d been through, I knew it was time for my next challenge, I was ready to return to work. In the end, I was glad I had taken those extra few months before coming back.

Had I rushed it, I wouldn’t have had the chance to spend so much time getting to know Jessie. That time together was a gift I’ll always be grateful for.

With the memories of our journey still fresh, I took my first steps back into the world of optometry, hopeful, and curious about what the next chapter would bring.