Moments you'll never forget

Hersheys

We all have those moments that we'll never forget and will stay with us forever. I've a few:

1) Breaking up with my on/off "boyfriend": We were together through final year, nothing serious just a bit of fun for both of us, but we stayed having fun when we finished college. I moved to the opposite end of the country and we kept the fun going. He wanted to just keep it as fun because of the distance, and that was fine with me. Then he dropped the bombshell that he had a girlfriend. Who was living in America. So I stopped contact. Over Christmas I was back up at home and he called and asked if we could meet for coffee as friends, I agreed, cos before we were having fun we were friends and I missed him, but one thing led to another and yeah, well I don't need to say what happened I felt awful for his girlfriend, but I got over it. We met for a drink again, and he kept trying to lob the gob, but I just kept avoiding it. We were walking through town and he took my hand, looked into my eyes and told me how much he loves spending time with me and how much he misses me, and went to kiss me. I muttered "you have a girlfriend" and that stopped him. We talked for a while, and then had a goodbye kiss - and I have to say, that kiss will stick with me FOREVER. It was so emotional - so many feelings behind it. It was perfect - just the best kiss ever, knee's buckling, the lot! - until I remembered it was a goodbye kiss, and I had to go. I cried the whole way home in the taxi. I'll never forget that kiss. I still get butterflies when I think of it.

2) Holding my nephew for the first time: And looking into his eyes and thinking that he was the most precious thing ever. Knowing that this little dude was going to be a major part in my life (his mom had PND so I was minding him for the first few months) and knowing that I was unconditionally in love with this 6 hour old lump. He signalled a turning point in my life - it wasn't on track, but knowing he was going to rely on me made me get things back on the straight and narrow, and now he has an aunt he can be proud of. I love that kid, and some day I'll have my own and give him some cousins.

3) Hearing my first serious boyfriend had died: His sister rang me to tell me he'd had a brain hemmorage and was in ICU. We'd been together for almost 5 years and had broken up over the summer, but were back talking and had spent the previous weekend together (yes, in the biblical sense!) and were discussing if we could move on from our break up (we broke up because I'd lost his baby) and we decided that we should give it another go. He had the stroke on the Tuesday and died on the Thursday. I got a phonecall on my way home from work to tell me he was gone. I never got to say goodbye. The weekend together we'd spent listening to Snow Patrol's "Final Straw" albumn, and "Run" was on my ipod as I took the call - that song always reminds me of him.

That's all I can think of for now! I'm sure as others share I'll remember more!

CathyMoran

• Day that I first met my husband - we saw one another in college and both looked and said hello - remember going on about how cute he was to my mummy...it took a while for us to go on our first date.
• Day that mummy had her brain haemorage.
• Day that I knew without a doubt that my husband is "the one" for me, was also the day that I was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
• Day that I got married
• Day that we found out that I was expecting our son.
• Day that our son was born.

There will be more days...I love my husband and son.

Hersheys

Cathy, I must say that, having followed both yours and Shanes progress on Boards over the past few years, you are an inspiration to us all, and that my attitude towards life changed when I saw how positive your approach to all of your setbacks was.

Well done, and I wish the three of you all the very best of luck in the rest of your lives together.

Catari Jaguar

Amazing post OP.

Asphyxia

Tears came to my eyes after reading your post OP. I hope you got through it okay.

1) Finding out my bestfriend had committed suicide
We hadn't talked for a few months because of an argument we had. I remember her mother ringing me asking me to come to her house and telling me. I was devastated and it took me ages to recover after it.

2) Loosing my first serious boyfriend
I was with him a good couple of months and was mad about him I used to see him nearly everyday. There was a gap of about 2 weeks when he never rang or text me I really thought he didn't want to be with me. I was really angry so I went in to where he lived and after a load of running round I was finally sat down and told he had overdosed and nobody had the heart to tell me. I was shattered to this day the mention of drugs makes me angry I stay well clear of them.

3) Getting with my boyfriend
I had the biggest crush on him when I was younger, he was my brother's bassist at the time. 2 years past and I went to a gig of his new band's with some friends and we got along so well at the end of the night I really fancied him. I started texting him that night and we met up the next day and hung out with friends together. After a while they all ditched us as it was clear we both wanted each other, he was so shy so I was the one to initiate our first kiss and it was amazing. 3 and a half years later I am so very happy.

4) Seeing one of my favorite bands live
I went to see AC/DC last year with my boyfriend and friends, it was incredible and the day went so well. To top it off we got free pitt passes and right in front of the stage at the barrier. I ended up meeting some savage people and think of it from time to time.

5) Being in a crash on the way to Dublin
Heading up to Dublin with friends and ended in a crash it's still really foggy the clearest bit I remember was being in ambulance heading for the hospital and my boyfriend beside me holding my hand. I remember my heart rate going down all of a shot and getting the shock to the heart to keep it up. I was so scared.

I still have a couple but will spread them out over time

Hersheys

Pocketfizz wrote: »

Tears came to my eyes after reading your post OP. I hope you got through it okay.

I still have a couple but will spread them out over time

I've more too, but wanted to wait and spread them!

I got through it okay, well I'm still here to tell the tale. A little bit messed up, but here!

Another one:

Drunken talking: Went out with a crowd from work one night last year. My housemate/best friend's ex was finishing up, and she wanted some moral support, so obviously I went out with her. We went to the club, but drew the line at going to the house party, so we went to the local greasy spoon and got take out, and sat on the couch in our house and just talked - complete honesty. Neither of us were overly drunk, just merry. But we sat there with cold chips, cups of tea and biscuits until it was bright (it was November, so for a long time) and we just talked. We learned so much about each other that night, from funny things like favourite sex position and the most adventurous thing we'd done in bed, to deep and meaningful conversations about her on-going battle with eating disorders and my on-going battle with depression/anxiety. It was "the moment". Awesome.

Sunrise/Sunset: Seeing the sunrise at the lighthouse in Byron Bay (most easterly point on mainland Australia) and then the sunset at Uluru. Two of the most amazing moments.

stupidusername

When my mam died.

I was holding her hand, having been sitting there for hours. She opened her eyes, looked around the room, breathed in and put her head back. Stopped breathing. The next minute is a bit of a blur. I set into a panic. Everyone came into the room. I kept holding her hand. I looked down and saw her arm go a funny colour, could feel the warmth drain away from her hand. I didn't want to leave but didn't want to stay. That was the last time I saw her.

I think I would've hated if I hadn't been there. I'm so glad I was, for her. I know someone else would've been holding her hand if I wasn't, we'd been taking turns, but I was her baby.

Maple

- Finding out my first boyfriend had twotimed me two days after I'd lost my virginity to him, I swear I heard my heart shatter.

- Swimming with dolphins in New Zealand

- Going on a 12 hour date with a guy who later became my best friend

- Myself and my best mate running around Oxegen, soaking wet but grinning our heads off with the fun of it all

- The night my ex boyfriend first told me he loved me.

- The night I broke up with my ex-boyfriend, hardest thing i've done in terms of affairs of the heart.

- when my sister told me she was pregnant

- when my sister asked me to be godmother to my little niece

- when the neurologist told us that my little sister should be dead or braindamaged having had such a severe epileptic seizure. My blood ran cold.

- sitting around the pool on a recent family holiday with all my brothers and sisters and thinking how lucky I am to have such wonderful siblings.

- when Ireland won the Grand Slam & Leinster the Heineken Cup. I had no voice for about 3 days after each game.

OP, what a wonderful idea for a thread. I'm smiling here remembering the happy times.

byhookorbycrook

Watching my sister-in-law die. She had held on, against all medical thinkning that she should have been dead months before. My husband and I were beside her and we rang my other sister-in-law to come to Cork from Kerry. I thought they were not going to make it, but they were only landed five minutes when the grey early morning sky opened up and the sun shone on her for a minute and the nshe was gone.

Being dignosed with MS. People say "Oh, it's a relief to get a diagnosis." Horse manure!

Having to put the horse who saw me through some of my roughest days post dignosis to sleep. He was 21 and shattered a hind joint. We had to move him from the stable out to the yard.Vet came, found 6 of us bawling crying, didn't know whether to stay or go

Buying my new and rather fun horsey. Iam now financially wiped out, but he was so worth it! Small, fat cob, doesn't do panic or fast. My kinda guy. He has given me back so much strength in my legs even if they are constantly sore and I have such fun watching my friends do things I no longer can,(or indeed ,he taking the absolute pee out of beginners ,not doing what he is told or taking short cuts across the arena.)

Visiting Iona. A special place where you can almost feel the hopes of hundreds of years.

A parent telling me: that their child had caught the "local history bug",
that I had made a difference to the life of their child,that the child now picked up a book of their own accord and so on.

Will

First time I ever remember hearing music - the song was enya, orinoco flow. Was released in '88 so i was at most 2. Just sat on the kitchen floor as babies do and listened to it mesmerized and wondering what the hell it was. Still love the song and reminds me of my youth.

First time seeing my younger brother, i was 6 and i was amazingly jealous as he was getting all the attention My mother was holding him in her arms and he was crying a lot. He was very sick up until his teens and now he's a beast of a man, funny how life goes.

Seeing my cousin 2 weeks ago, didn't have the strength to even hold his head up yet he was cracking jokes and enjoying life even when the odds were stacked heavily against him. Got to spend 2 days with him before he passed in his sleep. A traumatic time for all involved but I will look back fondly and remember a friend who always looked on the bright side of life and laughed in the face of death.

Think that's enough for now

banshee_bones

- my grandad having a heart attack during xmas while carving the turkey (i was about 5 at the time)

- first and only time I was ever in a car crash, walked away thank god

- the night my dad died, when I walked into the kitchen and saw my mother crying I knew his battle with cancer had ended

- getting my undergrad results while in Canada sitting in a chinese run internet cafe completely alone finding out I got a 2:1 and being so totally shocked and delighted at the same time, thought I had failed a subject for sure.

- my best friend telling me she was pregnant

- my best friend asking me to be godmother to her son

- holding my godson only a few hours after he was born

- getting accepted into a masters in tcd doing something I really wanted to do

- unexpectedly stumbling across a mountain gorilla while climbing a volcano in Rwanda

- Getting up before 6 am to go to the beach to watch the sun rise while in Kenya

Faith

Throughout sixth year, I was in love with a friend of mine. We finally kissed, the night before I was moving to Edinburgh. It was bittersweet, because I knew I was leaving, but it was by far the best kiss of my entire life. It was indescribable . No kiss has ever lived up to it!

The night my ex boyfriend told me he loved me. We'd been to dinner together in a really fancy restaurant, had come back to his house and had hours of sex by candlelight, and we were cuddled up in bed listening to unbelievably romantic music and the rain pounding against the window, when he just casually said it. It was probably the happiest moment of my life.

The minute my ex told me it was over. My heart literally stopped and my blood ran cold. All those clichés you read in books, they all happened. I will never forget the disbelief, followed by the numbness, followed by the earth-shattering, crippling heart break.

The day my mum told me she had breast cancer. Nothing more needs to be said there really.

Passing my driving test! It was the biggest feeling of relief ever!

krudler

Going to the cinema for the first time, I was 8, a bit of a late bloomer for it, but anyway, and it was the summer of 1989. My dad took me to see Batman, I remember seeing the ads on tv for it, I had loads of Batman comics and a sticker album and some trading cards that came with a really manky piece of chewing gum that you didnt really care about but just wanted cards you didnt already have.
And then one Saturday it was pissing rain, and we took a drive into town, he didnt tell me what we were doing until we were walking towards the cinema, I honestly didnt know what to expect,but I do remember being amazed at the smell, you know that popcorn and freshly hoovered carpet smell that only exists in a cinema?
I cant remember much before it but I do remember the beginning, as it was an old style cinema that had these big red curtains that opened before the film began, so I was sitting there, amazed at how big the still blank cinema screen appeared, and the movie began.
And i sat there completely awestruck for over 2 hours, my dad actually thought I hated it because I didnt say a word the whole way home, it wasnt until my mam asked me if I liked it that I started gushing on about how amazing it was. So thats the exact moment I figured out I loved movies, I mean I had spent hours on weekends watching old videos that my dad had (well old now, new at the time) of Indiana Jones and Star Wars and Back to the Future and The Goonies and all that, but this was something else entirely, it felt like a life changing event, it might seem silly to some but it was definitely the moment I fell in love with the cinema, and still do over 20 years later

stupidusername

Faith wrote: »

The day my mum told me she had breast cancer.

Ya I remember when mam told me over the phone that what was wrong was she had cancer. It was on my birthday, and I was on my way to a gig with my ex. he didn't know what was being said to me, I just had tears streaming down my face for the whole journey. Because of course the first thing you think is it's a death sentence. Well, in mams case it was.

kingtut

Finding out that one my exs who told me she was dying of leukemia actually made it up so that she could get out of being my boyfriend (and get back with her ex who she was apparently on a break from while she was with me) :mad:

Piste

Getting my offer for college. Up until then my life had followed the usual primary school -> secondary school route, but there was a big ????? after secondary school. I knew I'd be going to college, just until that moment I hadn't a clue which course or which college. When I got my offer it was like now my life had the next 5 years more or less mapped out and I once again had a path to follow. Added to that it was 5am, I'd been up all night and I didn't get the college I wanted, so I was pretty emotional until I realised how good I actually had it.

krudler

kingtut wrote: »

Finding out that one my exs who told me she was dying of leukemia actually made it up so that she could get out of being my boyfriend (and get back with her ex who she was apparently on a break from while she was with me) :mad:

What.
a.
bitch.

The Big Red Button

kingtut wrote: »

Finding out that one my exs who told me she was dying of leukemia actually made it up so that she could get out of being my boyfriend (and get back with her ex who she was apparently on a break from while she was with me) :mad:

That is, no exaggeration, one of the most f*cked up things I have ever heard. Ever. :mad:

Panthro

kingtut wrote: »

Finding out that one my exs who told me she was dying of leukemia actually made it up so that she could get out of being my boyfriend (and get back with her ex who she was apparently on a break from while she was with me) :mad:

Now thats rough.
on the upside, be grateful you dodged that fruitcake of a bullet.

Asphyxia

Some more I've been thinking over.

When my sister went to hospital
She was diagnosed with crohn's disease and had to have several operations and at one point we thought she was gone. I was terrified:( Thankfully she pulled through, sadly she still needs to get injections every so many months.

Stalked and harassed
Over three years ago I started getting strange PM's on my bebo account from some person I didn't know (no picture), it contained all private things about me that a lot of people didn't know. It got worse... this person managed to hack into some email accounts and social networking sites belonging to me and my boyfriend. Every time I went online I had to reset all my stuff not to mention I lost many of my online accounts to the hacking and they started making duplicate pages of me and my fella's Facebook and bebo, it got worse when this person targeted other people that new my boyfriend (including his ex girlfriend) and of course I ended up being blamed for doing it even many people who I never seen nor heard of before hassled me despite there being 6 billion others in the world. I went to the guards twice and was turned away saying nothing could be done about it, one night I was sitting at home with my boyfriend and out of nowhere my boyfriend received a text from my mobile saying I wanted to break up with him. I eventually had to change my phone number.
This went on until 1 year ago.:eek: Every time I think of it I get chills, the fact that we never found out who it was still scares me and every time I have to reset an account I always freak out in case it was hacked again.

L.Jenkins

Personally being cut from a car after an accident, thank god for volvos.

Not being in Ireland when my closet relative, my grandmother passed away suddenly. And watching other my other grandmother die of lung cancer.

Quite possibly the most depressing moments in my life which will haunt me as long as I live.

On a happier note, being asked to by a godparent to my nephew

beks101

Great idea for a thread OP

Here's a few of mine -

I'd say the single most memorable moment of my life to-date was watching my sister have a mental breakdown, when I was fourteen years old. The trauma and confusion and sheer fear of what was happening is something that haunts me to this day. Unfortunately it's something she's never recovered from, so that day was basically the first day of the rest of our lives as a family. It still hurts to think about it.

Getting my JC results . For some reason this is far more memorable than getting the more important LC results. I guess that year my confidence had taken a huge hit and it was such a traumatic year for me that I never envisaged I could do as well as I did. It was a proud moment and I'll never forget how proud my mammy was!

Another depressing one...cycling uphill in blistering heat in New Jersey whilst on J1 several years ago, when a huge truck passed me by. I was in the midst of the onset of an eating disorder at the time, going for one of my 25 mile cycles, and I remember in that moment the truck came so close...and I really wished in that second it had knocked me down. I was so miserable and so scared. I knew I was out of control in that moment and that I needed help. It was a powerful moment.

Happier times...coming home after a work placement interview, opening my emails and finding out that I was going to be placed in a TV station for 2 months. It was an 'oh...really?' moment as I'd never even considered a career in TV, but four years later it's something that has lasted, mapped the course of my working life and has thrilled, excited and fulfilled me in ways I never imagined.

Finally, probably the happiest moment of my life, for no particular reason...walking over to college when I was studying abroad in California. I had just made some amazing American friends, started seeing a really great guy and was loving classes over there and just American life in general. It was a sweltering hot day, I stopped in Starbucks to get an iced tea and I just had this sudden burst of happiness, like I had never experienced before. An explosion of just 'this is it. I love life right now. I've never been happier.' I don't know what provoked it, maybe I was still pi5sed from the night before! But it was this lovely, safe, warm, adrenaline-filled feeling that I strive to encounter again in life.

squeakyduck

- My dad leaving my mum.

- Watching my mum mentally break down after this.

- Finding out my brother was in a car crash in which he broke his neck and the driver died in the car beside him. Also going to the drivers funeral.

- Not being in the country when my baby nephew was born, I was in the states and he was born 3 days before I was due to leave, I was so lonely those days.

- Getting accepted to college after I ****ed up my LC due to a fight with my (ex) best friend.

- Finding out one of my best friends committed suicide, causing his dad to become a raging alcololic (he was my dad's best friend) and eventually die himself.

- Rebounding after my ex.

- The night I went out with my boyfriend, and the day after when we kissed

- Being accepted to an MA programme, and finally finishing the most boring thesis in the world.

- Leaving the job I was in for 3 horrible years to get a nicer job where I'm not treated like crap!

- Going out the night after I got my eyes lasered. The colours I will never forget. It was like some sort of trippy rave although I'd only had one pint!

Feeona

Great thread Hersheys
Reading through some of the posts, you've all had the worst of times and you've all had the best of times. It's always hard when you're having a bad time to believe that life will ever be good again. This thread proves that there'll always be a way out and good times ahead

barleybooley

I remember the stupidest things that are of no great significance but here's my contribution:

Standing in front of my mom on the day of the All Ireland in 1992 having cut my own hair with a nail scissors, being proud as punch with myself and she started crying and wailing "what have you done to your hair?"

Falling off a high wall 3 days later and being carried to my house by my neighbour, I still remember exactly what her apron looked like (red with white stripes). I had gone unconscious before reaching the door. I came through a while later with the doctor telling my mother "It's okay, we can pretend we had to cut her hair to do the stitches", the shame.

Climbing into bed with my mom after she had my twin sisters and her cuddling me. I now realise this was probably extremely uncomfortable for her and I doubt I'd do that for my own!

The night my boyfriend and I first got together, still super clear. It was after months of dancing around each other and people asking how long we were together for.

That's all that really sticks out now. Great thread OP!

Uriel.

Mods, if you don't mind I am not actually gonna post my unforgettable moments just yet because I haven't thought them through yet but I wanted to say:

Having read every post here, there are a number (not gonna single any specific ones out) that brought a serious level of moisture to my eyes. Some amazing and some very heartbreaking memories posted so far.

It is amazing when you step back for a moment in life and look at some of the things people have to deal with, I think you really see how most people have an amazing capability of dealing with some extremely difficult and horrible situations in life and able to come through on the other side.

Great thread OP.

carolinespring

I am not putting these in order, just moments that changed my life.

MY DAD'S DEATH.

Holding my Dads hand as he died the most awful death and and looking at the pain on my Mum and brothers face. As he was dying the cat was scraping to get out the back door and the meowing of the cat has stayed with me. After he died Mum, my brither and I hugging and crying and my brother having to clean up the cat s**t. Within a hour the house full of people and the neighbours laying dad out. When we went in to the bedroom to see him. I remember looking at him and wondering why he didnt look like dad anymore.

OUR WEDDING.

As my husband slipped the ring on my finger and he looked right into my eyes and my heart missed a beat. Only us and our 2 witnesses and the register in the room. Having tea and scones after before I had to take my ring off and hand it back and head to get ready for the blessing and black tie reception.

WHEN WE LOST OUR FIRST BABY.

The moment the doctor told us we had lost our baby. The room spining and I felt my blood go cold. I was sure I was going to pass out. The hours after when I just could not cry. The many more time that we have had to rehear the same words from a doctor and feel the same each time.

SAYING GOODBYE TO MY BEST FRIEND

My best friend moved to Canada. Friends more like sisters than anything for over 30 years, since we were 3. Holding each other and crying. Getting into the car with my husband and crying all the way home. Tracking her flight and the feeling of total loss when she called to say she had arrived safe and sound with her 3 kids

OUR TRIP TO EDINBURGH

Standing in Edinburgh castle with my husband and feeling so loved, lucky and happy on a very cold winters day. Remembering how wonderful life is.

LEAVING DUBLIN.

Watching the removal men put the last box into the big lorry and walking round my house in Dublin for the last time. Looking out my bedroom window as the lorry pulled out and feeling both so sad and so excited. Sad to be leaving my wonderful life and friends in Dublin but so excited to be moving west to live with my boyfriend (now husband) and wondering what the future would hold. The excitment building as I drove nearer and nearer my new home and getting out of the car and running into james arms shouting "your stuck with me now"

MY HUSBANDS GRADUATION

Watching my husbands graduation and feeling so pround that this fantastic man had just got his masters. The look on his face the next day when he walked into dinner to find 50 of his friends and family all seated for a surprise party. The feeling of love for him that made me feel I was going to burst.

WAKING UP THE FIRST CHRISTMAS MORNING LIVING WITH MY BOYFRIEND (now husband)

Just waking up and holding each other. Lying in bed giggling and opening the stocking we had got for each other. Having our first christmas breakfast together before both of our families arrived to spend the day and have dinner together. A perfect day.

xzanti

My 16 Y/O cousin dying from Cystic Fibrosis
She was sick right over Christmas 2006, we all waited by the phone through the entire Holiday, we thought she was going to leave us on Christmas morning.. We all gathered in the Hospital but they kept giving us glimmers of hope.

On St. Stephen's Day we were told they were going to have one last try and treating her by going into her lungs with some special machine to clear them out but one of her lungs became punctured and we lost her on New Years Eve. It was the most miserable time a family could go through. She was such a lovely kid.

She never even told any of her school friends that she had the illness because she never wanted any special treatment RIP Sweety X

My Sister returning home from NYC on 11/09/2001
Her and her then Fiance, now Husband were literally hours from the disaster. The WTC was the last place they visited before their dash to JFK Airport. She arrived home to my Mothers house about an hour before the first plane hit. She was completely in shock for about 2 days.

They were on the front page of her Fiances local paper that week, they had a digital picture of the 2 of them on top of one of the towers with the date 10/09/01. Thank God she didn't stay an extra day!!

A random moment of contentment (is that at word?)
On Holidays in Tenerife a few years back, sitting outside a nightclub on a patch of grass and just feeling like life would never be quite as carefree as it was at that moment. It was quite sureal, I remember Gnarls Barkley 'Crazy' was playing and I just felt so free and happy

There are so many more but don't have time or inclination to go typing them out right now :cool:

CathyMoran

carolinespring wrote: »

WHEN WE LOST OUR FIRST BABY.

The moment the doctor told us we had lost our baby. The room spining and I felt my blood go cold. I was sure I was going to pass out. The hours after when I just could not cry. The many more time that we have had to rehear the same words from a doctor and feel the same each time.

I wish that I could just give you a big hug, the pain from loosing babies is beyond words...I still get upset over our losses. Huge hugs.

In keeping with the thread: the day that we lost our baby January 2009...still too painful.

The day that my gran died - she was 100 and I was with her, she would have hated to know that I was getting ill at that time but would have loved to see me getting married (she really took to my husband) and would have loved seeing our son.

The day that I heard that my brother had finally asked his lovely fiancee(sp) for her hand in marriage - she is lovely

rainbow kirby

My grandfather's last few days - he'd been ill for a long time by then, but it was made most clear to us that he didn't have long to go (and this much was even obvious to 9 year old me) when my grandfather, a lifelong hurling fanatic, couldn't even sit up in his bed to watch the 1993 All-Ireland hurling final. This was the first Sunday in September, and he died 4 days later in his sleep.

Getting my LC results - I knew then that I had the points to do pretty much anything I wanted, and collecting my results meant the end of a chapter of my life that I'd wanted to end for a long time (I hated secondary school with a fiery passion).

Realising that my best friend had outed me to my parents - He'd been jokingly threatening to out me to my parents for a long time. I didn't realise that he was actually going to go through with it. Came home from a night out and just headed straight to bed, and when I woke up the next morning my mum decided it was going to be Awkward Conversation Time when I was sitting down to my breakfast. Turned out that for all those years I'd had absolutely nothing to worry about - my mum's response to it all was pretty much "lol, we've known for years, but didn't want to say anything until you did". Could have killed my friend at the time, but I'm kinda glad he did now because it forced me to have that awkward conversation.

Finishing my first marathon - It's something I never thought I could do, but decided to give it a go last year. The feeling I got when I turned the corner at Trinity to head down Nassau Street, into a wall of noise and crowds lining the street for the last bit down to the finish - knowing I was going to meet my "wildest dreams" time goal too, was just incredible. I can still look down Nassau Street and mentally add in the crowds and the finish line and remember that moment.

Will

oh dear jesus, awkward conversations, the sex talk everyone gets from their parent or parents... my dad decided to chat with me about the birds and bee's in the local take away of all places. Told him I knew what the story was and to pick up the chicken szechuan before I threw it at him.

kingtut

krudler wrote: »

What.
a.
bitch.

You can say that again, I say it almost every day in my head :mad:

chatterpillar wrote: »

That is, no exaggeration, one of the most f*cked up things I have ever heard. Ever. :mad:

Worse still, my Uncle died of it when I was about 10 so I know EXACTLY what happens when you have it and every day all I could think about was the pain she was in :mad:

papagormo wrote: »

Now thats rough.
on the upside, be grateful you dodged that fruitcake of a bullet.

Thanks. Ever since her I have found relationships / trust very difficult. Doubt I'll ever have a fulfilling one now thanks to her :mad:

baby and crumble

I love the idea of this thread. Makes you believe again in the resilience of humans...

I suppose some of mine would be-

When we were walking behind the hearse that my Mums coffin was in, through my home town. Walking along, just thinking about everything and all of a sudden the woman in the front seat of the car on the opposite side of the road took out a camera and took a photo! of us, the family, walking behind the hearse. I nearly lost it, but my Dad was like "Don't make a show of yourself!". I still can't comprehend what kind of a person needs a photo of a random funeral in the country

My Mums eyes open for the last time before she died. I'll never, ever forget that.

The first time I kissed a girl. I was 21, and all of a sudden it was like "Ooooooh. THAT made sense..." :rolleyes:

The moment by best friend told me she had cervical cancer. It was 3 days after my Mum was diagnosed with stomach cancer and about a week after my girlfriend told me she was quitting her job because she was being bullied and had been on anti-depressants and self-harming for years. Heck of a week, that one.

Meeting my favourite singer, Janis Ian when she played in Dublin a few years ago. that woman's music single-handedly got my through some crazy times, both good and bad. It was amazing to meet this tiny tiny "she's like, 4'8", I'm about 5'10"!!!) woman who had such a big impact on me.

Oh, and meeting my Godson for the very first time. I total cliché, he put his fist around my finger, and I totally fell in love. He's now four and the coolest dude EVER.

cena

knowing i'm probally few people in ireland that have two different leving certs.

knowing that i didn't need brothers of charity any more as i had learning problems growing up at thye age of 20.

having a little 21st party in secondary school with my home ec class.

been in a accident in work and damaging my hand. did nerve and muscle damage.

theres more but don't feel like putting them up.

great thread

Feeona

kingtut wrote: »

Thanks. Ever since her I have found relationships / trust very difficult. Doubt I'll ever have a fulfilling one now thanks to her :mad:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news kingtut, but she'll be the winner in this if that's the case.

Don't let the likes of her get one over you....there are girls out there who'll treat you in the way you expect to be treated. They do exist. Don't give up hope

SheRa

What a lovely idea for a thread, though I am so sorry for all the bereavements:(.

Passing my driving test, was seriously beginning to think Id never get it!

The first time I kissed my boyfriend. Even though I was going through some rough stuff at that time, it was like the world just stopped for a few seconds and I felt butterflies, i still remember how hard my heart was beating. He still gives me butterflies too:).

Asphyxia

The moment where I finally became comfortable with being attracted to women. I was so confused for ages until a sudden realization came to me where I stood up and said F**k it! This is me and if you don't like it you know where you can go. One of the best feelings I ever experienced and after that I was never afraid of being who I wanted to be or cared what opinions people had of me. If they don't like it that's there problem :D

princess-lala

After spending a while on the phone to a good friend this evening - talking about nothing in particular I feel very positive so for today I'll post my happy moments

1. Hearing my niece cry - she is the most beautiful kid in the world

2. Passing my driving test

3. My big brother meeting the woman of his dreams

4. Said brother marrying his beautiful bride and me gaining a sister

5. Again said brother and his wife telling me they are gonna be parents

6. Coming home from London - QUALIFIED

7. Opening my salon!!!!

martin699

just after reading the whole thread... some great stories in there and some great losses as well... great thread OP...

the biggest moment that rocked my life was New Years Day 2004... I was 17 years old and had been out on New Years Eve to a Saw Doctors gig... wasn't drinking or anything just there for the enjoyment and had a great night with a few friends... ended up not getting home until about 6am... it was my first really late night out so I wasn't use to it... anyway my Dad came in to my room at about midday to wake me up because he wanted me to do some work outside... one of the jobs required me to climb up a loft that was about 13ft up... anyway I was walking around up there and the next thing I remember was waking up in hospital 8 hours later with my whole family looking down at me... apparently I had fallen off the loft and smacked my head of the concrete floor... my brother found me lying there and thought I was dead... after a few days in hospital I was ok... but every time I think of it I get shivers running up my spine... every doctor and nurse that was looking after me was telling me I was lucky to be alive...

A happier time was when I passed my driving test a month after my 17th birthday... the mixture of horror I was feeling on the way back to the test center because I had stalled the car on the hill start and absolute delight when he told me I had passed... great day...

Cookie Jar

1. When a nun in school told me I would fail my leaving cert and more than likely anything I did in life.
2. Getting college results (I got the second highest from the class)
3. Finding out I was pregnant.
4. Hearing the words "It's a healthy baby girl"

Malari

In no particular order:

- Breaking up with my first love and my dad getting almost as upset as I was because he hates to see me sad.

- Opening the letter that told me I was being accepted to study in Oxford.

- Winning the national rowing champs.

- My current boyfriend asking me if he ever told me he loved me (knowing full well he hadn't!) then telling me he did. After a week.

There's more but they are really personal moments and I actually haven't told anyone about how memorable they are, so think I don't really want to post them. Most of them are positive actually. I don't remember an awful lot of bad things in my life.

LegacyUser

First love: I met this girl a few years while on holidays, we didn't exactly hit off that night but she did keep in touch with a friend of mine. Fast forward to last year when came to Ireland on a holiday with her friends. I agreed to go into town and meet them with my friend for a few drinks but planned on meeting up other friends later on in the night. I spotted her walk through the doors of the pub and our eyes just fixed on each other that seemed to last for hours. I ended up staying and had a great night but nothing happened between is, we talked alright and i walked her back to her hotel. I didn't see her again as she was going home the next day and I was dying with a hangover ( i get them bad ). I got number of my friend and texted her one night i was out, from that moment on we texted each other every day 20 times or more and started talking on the phone everyday that continued through, e-mails and chatted on MSN. This went on for 7 months 24/7. I was smitten, she was an amazing, independent, funny and so caring and thoughtful. I thought at times I was falling for her but I knew I couldn't with the distance so fought it. We spent many hours on phone at night talking and more if one of us was out that night, the difference in time was 8hrs but it added to the excitement of waking up to a drunk text message or even when I arrived into work in the morning I would have a new e-mail from her and I would have the biggest grin on my face for the rest of the day. I even found myself enjoying work and life more; I had a spring in my step.

She asked if I would come visit her, we always knew had to or we would end up wondering what if. I booked flights and was departing a couple of days after Christmas. I sent her a text and she was more excited then I was, she thought I wouldn't plus I wasn't sure if I would get the time off work. I went over and she met me at the airport, I saw her for the first time in 9 months and I was gobsmacked, she looked amazing. We spent 10 amazing days, going out to places together and going out to the pubs together with her friends. I wasn't myself really, why? I think it’s only now that I know why. I had fallen for over and yes you might ask yourself how you can, well that’s what I asked myself. I was out one night and her best friend kept asking me how I really felt, she was fishing for information or so I thought. The time had come to say good bye and I was in the room packing listening to music and are song came on, I was getting tears in my eyes but I held it together as I was man and we don't express are emotions. I have never got emotional before, I never felt likes this through out all the girls or the few girlfriends I was it but this time it felt different about her. She came and we had a cheeky dance to our song that was playing and just gazed into each others eyes, I knew then I should have told her at that moment how I really felt but I bottled it like I always do. She drove me to that airport that evening and we said goodbye, we hugged and kissed and that was it. It wasn't until I was in the airport that I realised how I really felt sitting there having a drinking to myself and get yet again emotional about having to leave her, she was the same when we said goodbye. Unfortunately that was the last time I would see her, I struggled with the distance and my feelings. We started to argue over the most stupid of things ever and I pushed her further away so much so she met someone else.

I remember her friend that night fishing for information telling me how she was thinking of moving to Ireland but wasn’t sure how I felt and was afraid to ask or tell me the truth in case she pushed me away, that scared me but because I was shocked but she had a few to drink. To this day I regret not telling her t at that moment in her room dancing to our song and I was in love with her and thought she was amazing. I didn’t tell her enough how I felt and she pushed me at times when she was drunk or had a drink but I got all defensive and put this wall up. I still am in love with her even though months have passed not a day goes pass I don’t think about her. I will regret that moment for the rest of my life. I told her I loved her in a text but it’s not the same as telling someone face to face.

I was reading OP thread today and it had me thinking of her so i posted this down but i would like to stay anonymous if Mods i don't mind.

Novella

Great thread idea, OP.

I think I have a lot of unforgettable moments, 'cause I'm a memory hoarder. I try really hard to remember all kinds of things. I like to think that every second matters, that it's all pretty special. So I'd be here forever if I listed everything, but I'll mention a few.

I remember when I found out that my granny had died. December 2001. I was twelve years old. Her and I were always really close. I lived with my grandparents as a child, and I suppose I looked up to her as my mother figure. She was my best friend. I wondered why no one had bothered to tell me that she was gonna die. I didn't think it was fair that the last time I saw her, I just said, "See you later" and we never got to have a proper goodbye.
I wore purple to her funeral, even though everyone else wore black because it was her favourite colour. I read a poem that I'd written myself, and afterwards, at the burial, it was windy and raining. There were chimes hanging in the trees and that's all I remember hearing and I was glad it was raining, so no one would know that I was crying.

In March 2007, I had a miscarriage. What I remember about that is being in Holles Street on my own. I was only seventeen. I was only a kid, and I was scared. I needed somebody to tell me that it was gonna be okay, but there was no one. I stayed awake all night. In the morning, I had a scan and I watched the screen and it was just black and grey... and there was no heartbeat.
I discharged myself from hospital, because it was Sunday and I'd never ever missed a Sunday visit to my grandad.

I'll always remember the first time my mum told me that she loved me. I was twenty. She rang me one morning, a morning after a bit of an 'incident' the night before and she just said, "You know we all love you, don't you? You know I love you?" and I said... "I know". I've been kicking myself ever since! It was nice though, it was nice to hear.

And as for happier moments, there have been a million of them too. This post is long enough though, so I'll get around to them another time.

who what when

Feeona wrote: »

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news kingtut, but she'll be the winner in this if that's the case.

Don't let the likes of her get one over you....there are girls out there who'll treat you in the way you expect to be treated. They do exist. Don't give up hope

Dont think anyone would be a winner in that situation really..

barleybooley

A few more spring to mind:

Being dressed by my dad on one particular morning for going to the babysitter. I would have been about 2 and a half at the time and it was in my parents room sitting on their bed on the left hand side. I was wearing a yellow blouse

Feeling the twins kicking when my mom was pregnant with them, I would've been just gone four and looked like a boy with my new self styled haircut. She was sitting on a chair in the kitchen beside the window facing the TV.

Having a big fight with my senior infants teacher over the actual number of shapes in a piece of out homework (the pictures where a roof is a triangle and people's heads are circles etc., very basic concept). I was so upset that she wouldn't even listen to me. I knew there were more than she was letting on. I was so upset I didn't even want to do PE after.

Being devastated that I lost my koala teddy that my dad got for me the day he got it in my babysitters house.

Being driven to A&E by my mom when I was having a bad asthma attack. I decided to stop trying to breath. I woke up to my mom hitting me and saying "Look at the man on the bike!". It was about 4.30am and there was a guy out on a bike going down this sh*tty road in the full garb, yellow hi-vis and all, I still remember it. It wasn't long after I turned 8 so it would have been early October and raining really heavily and there's a guy on a bike in the middle of the night. I'll never forget it. My mom always starts crying when she reminds me of that night.

That's enough for now I think. Really loving this thread OP!

Ekat

-Being 10 and my dad telling me that nobody would ever marry me because I was fat.

-The times my mam has held my face and told me she loves me.

LegacyUser

Going anon for this. Thought I'd spill my guts about growing up with an alcoholic mother. A good few scarred for life moments. As a child I obviously wasn't allowed to talk about this and we were nearly put into care before. My poor dad tried so hard... Only my boyf knows this stuff and I only told him when I like 22.

My mam deciding to drunk drive to the office in town where she worked (family run) A beat up old ford fiesta, it must have been in '88 because I was about 4. I remember driving through (what I know now was) Ballsbridge and being sick with nerves because I didn't know where I was and I knew something wasn't right and that we'd probably crash.

Another time she drunkenly tried to give a lift home to a kid that had called down to spend the day. She stopped at lights and didn't put on handbrake or something and the car rolled back a little down main street and bumped another car and driver came up and asked if everything was alright and she was all waffly and tipsy. Mortified.

I had an old double bed out in my room when my little brother moved rooms, because I was 11 then and needed privacy. My mam would get blind drunk, shout all night, get into blazing rows with my dad (and he'd be so frustrated he might give her a slap and drag her upstairs to bed) She was so belligerent and demanding. Sometimes she'd come in then and say how much she loved me and cry stupid drunk tears and reek of vodka, then climb into my bed to sleep beside me. Wake up the next morning to find she'd pissed in my bed.

One time she was in the landing in her silk pyjama top, no bottoms at all and propping her self against the wall and started threatening to burn the house down and I remember pleading with her and crying and panicking to just please please please don't burn the house down. My dad came running up then and diffused it. Read her the riot act. I've never forgotten that feeling.

Another time, she hallucinated about winged horsemen coming and flying in the room and calling for her brother that had died in a motorcycle accident when he was in college.

She smacked me in the face before. I think I smacked her back.

I used to sneak downstairs, (Dad worked night shift) and watch inappropriate stuff like Freddy Kreuger, Candyman, IT the Clown, Carrie.... late at night. This really scared me. One night I was gonna go check that the latch was on the door before I went to bed. I was too scared to go down the hall because it was so dark (I was 7). Mam was drunk in bed. My Dad came home at 6am to find the front door wide open, house burgled and TV gone. Dad was so pissed off. I genuinely thought it was my fault.

My Dad is really controlled and doesn't drink due to my Mam. When I was about 6 my Dad said he was going out and we asked where and he said real casual like; "I'm going to the pub. I'm gonna go get drunk" and we kids just started begging him not to and crying and pushing him backwards to prevent him leaving. He told me later that he half wanted to know out reaction but never thought it's be so bad and he's regretted it so much since. I remember being so scared by that I'm on the verge of tears now.

One day we were out playing. I was in second class, we got locked out. Dad wouldn't be home for another 2 hours. We ended up calling our friends around the corner that I was in school with. I said "My Mam is drunk, we're locked out can we stay here til Dad gets back". The Mother cooked us fried egg and chips and even asked how we liked out egg to be cooked. It was a functional family. She walked us back over then and my Dad had been freaking out because he didn't know where we were.

That incident led to my dad getting tipped off that social services had been called. He called them first to say he couldn't cope just to ease the blow that he knew would come. My Mam had to go to rehab. For that couple of months the house was clean, we did chores, there was no smell of piss or cheap wine or cigarette smoke. We went in bed on time, we never watched TV. First time in my life with structure. She was allowed out for my Communion. I went back to the rehab place in my dress and all these down and out looking types, ravaged by a life of drink were giving me pound coins and shaking my hand. Odd experience.

Of course rehab made no difference and she was back to her old tricks and forging cheques behind my dads back for booze money, drinking children's allowance etc. Sometimes the police (or strangers) brought her home because she was wandering around at night. I was plying with a friend in the park and we saw a bum over the other side of the park so we went to investigate. Imagine my horror when I discovered it was Mam there on a bench, twisted with a piss puddle on the ground under the bench. Another time she fell asleep in the park and a knacker stole her rings.

At 12, my mam went on such a binge that she almost failed her kidneys from dehydration. I remember her in my double bed under that blue and white flower bed spread that my gran owned and I hated (she'd been there 3 days) croaking at me for a pint of water. Dad took her to hospital. On release they told her her liver, lungs, kidneys were all grand. Unbelievable.

Another time due to a drunken fall probably, she got an aneurysm on her brain. She was messing her words up. It was scary. She was sitting in the hospital bed with a patch of her head shaved and a metal plate. I didn't like visiting. I was in the hall and dad had gone to the gents. I looked in and saw my Mam having a violent seizure and I just freaked out and started yelling for my dad and he tried to get a nurse and I just stood there frozen watching her convulse while nurses ran in and tried to stop it.

It carried out through my teens and most Christmases were ruined because she'd get drunk and get also make a show of us at family parties. I'd have leaving cert exams and get no sleep because of the roaring and shouting.

My Gran lived with use from when I was 12 - 15 . She told me my Mam drinks because of us kids. I never forgave her for that.

I moved out and then didn't see my Mam's episodes. You kind of forget that things were ever like that. My Dad has retired since and can keep an eye on her and she doesn't binge drink or get really hammered anymore. The relationship damage is done though.

Neadine

Excellent idea for a thread OP, if a very emotional topic. Have been more than slightly teary eyed reading some postings.

Having a rather turbulent childhood and a lot of emotional memories that I don't even want to think about.

Meeting my nephew for the first time
He was less than an hour old, and completely perfect. My sister then asked me to be Godmother, was touched, we don't have the closest, or best, of relationships.

Coming home one weekend, it was my birthday that day. I remember being really put out that no one at home acknowledged my birthday, then my mum told be my aunt, who had been bravely battling cancer, has slipped in to a coma that day. Four days later when she passed away and my ten month old nephew walked for the first time that afternoon. He is now 12 and the same height as me!

Hearing the news that a friend was killed in a road accident en route to the funeral of another friend. Tragic time for 2 families and so many friends.

Feeling I had no option but to leave a job I loved because of being bullied by my manager. That experience did so much damage to my confidence, self esteem and self worth - still working on all of those. He made me question my ability to do a job that I loved and one which I had huge success at, still working at getting back to where I was with that.

First kiss with my most recent... partner/bf(?!) on the beach in the middle of winter, no one else around for miles. Had been walking and laughing and generally just enjoying being together. I can still remember what I was wearing that day, actually can remember what he was wearing too... corny or what?! So, so many fantastic memories of times with him. We had so much fun and I genuinely loved every minute I spent with him. Remember him phoning me while he was away with his family, I was at work at the time, and him telling me he was falling in love with me, think I floated through the rest of that shift. Him telling me that he just wanted to be friends, because of his personal circumstances he felt he couldn't give me what I wanted/needed. I swear I heard my heat break, it physically hurt. Still devastated about it.

I'm sure there are so many more, but that's about as much as my emotions can deal with for now!

LadyMayBelle

Folks, I gotta say I have tears in my eyes reading this thread. Some really powerful memories have been shared here.

For me, I remember when my mum called me in Brisbane to tell me to come home as my Grandad was seriously ill; he was perfectly well when I had last seen him, but had hidden his signs of prostate cancer because, sadly, he was a very proud man. That coupled with pneumonia in hospital.

When the nurse asked me to call my Gran into ICU, as he didn't have much time; her face, her voice, her whole demeanor..it brings me to tears to think of it even now. He died shortly after after her telling him that she was there and there was nothing to be afraid of.

When my little sister was born; ten years ago. It was a massive shock for us all (especially my parents!) but I remember getting a call from my Dad while I was at a society meeting in college at 8:15 pm on the 26th of October, to tell me I had a little sister at long last! Amazing!

The whole experience of getting together with my boyfriend. Love it and will never forget it.

When I got offered my masters course, having failed a few times. I was ecstatic

Passing my driving test first time. Shocked and will never forget the feeling!

There are more, some a little too personal.

/wiping away tears

Clare Bear

The day I left school. Probably still one of the happiest days of my life. I hated every second of secondary school.

Starting college and thinking "Now this is where the best days of my life begin" Loved every moment of college and the people I spent it with.

19, hungover on a Sunday morning. Saw the light flashing on our home phone that there was a voice message. My parents were away on holidays so I checked it. It was my cousin saying my Granduncle had passed away the night before. I rang my Dad, tears streaming down my face, he already knew the news and tried his best to calm me down but he got nowhere, I was inconsolable. My Granduncle was like a Grandad to me (both my Grandads died before I was born and he took their place in my eyes) I was a very shy child and wouldn't talk to anyone. Except him. I'd yap away with him for hours. As I got older I didn't see him as much, he went downhill healthwise and it upset me seeing him like that so I kind of avoided him. Which was horrible but I was a teenager and had other things going on I suppose and it felt easier avoiding him than seeing him like that. He died very suddenly, it wasn't expected so I never got to say goodbye. It still to this day, almost 10 years on is my biggest regret that I didn't say goodbye and tell him how much I loved him. I was a brat and didn't realise he wouldn't be around forever. His children lived in America and he died alone. The man that gave me everything died alone.....I hope he knew I still loved him despite not seeing him as much. If it was now I would have spent as much time with him as possible but being a stupid 19 year old with a social life meant more to me back then. I have a ring that he gave me for my 18th, it means the world to me. But I still hate myself for missing out on the last year of his life.

My last ex boyfriend. 3 years of fun, madness, new experiences and love. I still miss him and think about him a lot. Great memories. But also unbearable heartache and the lowest point in my life when we broke up. Shame neither of us had it in us to be friends afterwards. I still wouldn't be ready now four years later....maybe one day, who knows.

7 years ago getting a phonecall that my brother was in ICU after a bad epilepsy seizure and to come home immediately. That train journey was the longest 3 hours of my life. I got to the hospital and was told to expect the worst. I remember going outside and bawling crying, for some reason it came in to my head that I never asked him what his funeral song would be.....an odd thing to think about but it's all I could think about and that I'd let him down with whatever I could choose. Thank God (and I still do every day!) he came out of it and hasn't had an attack since. He's my best friend and the thought of not having him in my life would end my entire world.

The day I met my boyfriend. Knowing there and then that he was the one for me. I've never had that before, it was like a cheesy movie and I have never had such a sense of comfort and belonging. Perfect. And going on 3 years later it has been perfect ever since. True love really is magical.

Getting a job last April that I thought was above and beyond anything I could ever achieve. Still pinching myself and despite a lot of doubts I'm now very happy and capable and not as useless as I thought I was.

My parent's 40th anniversary last month. Had a moment where I looked around at all our family and friends and saw how happy my parents were. It was one of those rare days when everyone was together and might not be again for a long time and thought what a wonderful family I have and how lucky we all are. Life is good

beks101

Heavy Rain just wanted to thank you for your post. It brought tears in my eyes.

I really hope you and your family have found the support and love that you need to come to terms with the emotional scars. And I hope that somewhere someone just read your post and has had their eyes opened wide to the impact of alcoholism on entire families.

I'm so sorry for what you've been through