Angry Mom.

On a note slightly unrelated to the purpose of this blog entry, I love Guinness. I realize the only update anyone got was from my birthday when I thought it tasted like garbage, which it did. However since then I've taken sips of all sorts of different beers, and have slowly grown to like the flavor. Recently I ordered a pint of Guinness, and thought it was smooth and delicious and perfect. Terrible timing, considering I'm leaving Ireland soon!

All of that being said, Kelsey and I toured the Guinness factory yesterday! It was really interesting seeing how everything is brewed, and at the end of the tour we each got a complimentary pint of freshly brewed Irish Guinness!

On the train ride back home it was quite busy because it was around rush hour. The ride from Dublin to Maynooth takes about 30 minutes, maybe a little more at this time of day because the train stops at every station. Needless to say, it's not very fun to stand during that whole ride.

Kelsey and I were sitting in two seats because we got to the station early and were some of the first people on the train. I noticed a woman, who appeared to be the mother of two little girls who looked about 3 and 4 years old, sit down with her girls, then stand up after a stop and walk with them to the front. After they passed our seats I assumed they got off the train. However, after a few stops, they walked back in front of Kelsey and me to where only the woman's seat was left. The mother sat in it, and said something harshly to the girls about how 'their seats weren't there any more' so they would 'just have to stand.' She was a short, burly looking woman with scraggly dark brown hair and a round, rough face.

Kelsey and I felt bad for the two little girls. We decided to give our seats up to the little girls, as we were seated very near to the mother, and then we would try our luck finding seats at the other end of the train. We stood up, walked into the aisle, and tried to get the mother's attention to offer our seats. After a few minutes with no success, I said "Excuse me," and the entire train car went quiet and they all looked at me, the mother included.

"Your daughters can have our seats," I said. "We will move to the back."

"No, YOU listen to ME," she scowled, pointing her finger at me. "She had to go to the bathroom, and someone took her seat. She needs to learn her lesson."

I was startled not only by the way she was punishing her 3 year old for having to go to the bathroom, but also by the way that she was reprimanding me. I was so stunned I just ended up covering my mouth with one of my hands. I mumbled through my fingers "I really don't mind.."

She promptly responded "Well I do, she needs to be punished."

I could feel my face becoming warm with embarrassment for her, more than for being attacked myself. Looking around at the other passengers verified, however, that her behavior was indeed stunning. I turned around to Kelsey, hand still on my mouth, to see her mouth agape as well. We were standing awkwardly trying to decide whether to sit back down or go find new seats anyway, when the woman who was sitting behind our seats said "I would just sit.."

"Really?" I asked. "I just don't know...just sit back down here?"

"That's what she said to do, and I'd just do what she said," the woman smiled.

We sat back in our seats and rode the rest of the way to Maynooth, during which our confused embarrassment turned to laughter by the end of the journey.