Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig

AKA Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

With all that's going on in the world, it seems strange to write about this - but all day long I held this memory and would laugh out loud.

My Mom is from Ireland. When I was little, we would go to Ireland every other summer. It so fun.

One particular summer memory stands out especially on St. Patrick's Day. My Aunt and Mom joyfully told us girls (there were 6 of us + my younger boy cousin) that we were climbing Croagh Patrick. Apparently this is a where St. Patrick went and fasted for 40 days before he banished snakes from Ireland (which did you know that you won't find a snake in Ireland?).

Well, we set off (not all of us, I can't remember who stayed with the younger crew - but the Mom's and I know the 3 of us older girls went). When you drive up, it looks like a steep hill.





And then, you see these little old ladies going up the hill with walking sticks and bare feet. We thought piece of cake, BOY were we wrong. That sucker is straight uphill and rocky (lots and lots of rock). It was a long, long walk. Those same old ladies were passing us like we were standing still.

When we got to the top, it was misting, there is a fabulous view (I wouldn't know it was misting). We went to the Church to pray, St. Patrick built that too. We were ravenous! So, my aunt handed us some Tayto's aka potato chips and I want to say we had a drink. Then it was back down the hill. Downhill sounded easy, I remember that much - but did I mention that it was misting and rocky? We slipped and skidded the whole way down.

Some of my best memories of my childhood are the summers that I spent in Ireland. It was wonderful. The weather was great, it was fun seeing my cousins, aunts, uncles, and my grandmother (while she was alive). We spent a majority of our time on the west coast of Ireland. In fact, I don't really remember going to Dublin but once or twice. The one for sure time, I went with my cousins' Girl Scout Troop to the Dublin Zoo. At the time, there was a rhino there named, Fiona, I wasn't impressed.

Now, that I have my own family, I want to go back. I was there almost 2 years ago while I was pregnant, my mom and I went. My husband and kids didn't go (well, the baby did - I was pregnant). The whole time I was there, I just kept wishing that my husband was there. He has never been. While I was there I saw so much of my family, so many that my husband has never met.

If you ever get a chance to go, enjoy the people and the landscape. I love flying into Ireland no matter when you go - winter or summer - everything is green.

Until I get everyone there. I'll keep the memories of those days in my heart always.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!