Imagine being on a roller coaster, travelling 73 miles an hour down a 90 degree drop, and you get some idea of the speed of change that has occurred in three rural communities in County Roscommon. ‘Not only is that scary,’ Gavin from Elphin writes, ‘but your body turns to jelly.’ Parents and children in Elphin, Lisacul and Loughglynn give us heartfelt accounts of changes they have experienced, from moving home, to growing up, from loss and sadness to miraculous cures. These stories and images help us understand change from unexpected angles. Using the metaphors of roads and signs, and change as a monster, we see that change is always going on in our lives, but by accepting it and getting on with it, we can gain valuable skills and make friends with life.