It’s two o’clock in the morning, and Armagh is dead.
But the city is not without life. No one walks the streets, but the very buildings seem to come to life, great slumbering giants waiting for the rise of dawn to turn them back to stone and wood and glass. They join together as if in a hive mind, and the city becomes a presence that embraces me and draws me along its roads and byways, seeking the next row of shops or houses.
Devoid of its citizens, Armagh almost feels like a movie set; it’s smaller yet bigger, less real yet more real. The atmosphere is magical and a little heady. Being alone out here gives me a sense of ownership, as if I’ve finally grown into my last name, as if I have become Jonathan, King of Armagh. There is nothing I can’t do, nowhere I can’t go, and it’s exhilarating and empowering and a little scary. But I feel like I finally know this town.
Then I look back and find I’m not alone after all. Team Playwright (and James) is out here with me. I smile. I’ve only known these people less than a week, and we’re already close friends. What surprises me is that these people are all so different from me. I’ve spent the last twenty years of my life in the South, surrounded by people who look like me, talk like me, think like me, and believe what I believe. These people have thrown me into culture shock. If I’d met any of them casually, I’m not sure I would have befriended any of them. But living together, talking together, eating together, laughing together, and learning together has made me see there’s so much more to them than what’s on the surface. Will I always like what they do or say? Will I always agree with their beliefs? Of course not. But that’s not the point. The point is that every one of these people is so much bigger, so much more real, so much more magical than I could ever imagine. And that’s exhilarating and enlightening and more than a little scary, but it’s so worth it.
They are my friends. And God willing, they always will be.
ieiMedia Storytelling Project in Armagh, Northern Ireland
I love this! I had to read it again:)
Thank you for sharing this. Inspired me today. 🙂
Jonathan, how beautiful and inspirational. I am proud to call you friend.
This is beautiful and totally made my morning. You’re awesome and I’m proud to be an honorary member of Team Playwright with you!