Hi everyone. Hmmm...Ireland, a land of emerland green, rugged beauty, and the most lyrical cussing I have ever heard in my life. I had the opportunity to visit Ireland for a brief fleeting moment a few years ago on business. I flew from Bristol England to Dublin. While waiting for my connecting flight Jerry Adams came through in a flurry of body guards and reporters. He was on his way to the US that weekend as part of the "peace talks" with president Clinton. It was interesting to watch the mixed reaction of the masses while he walked through the airport.
I had a very charming Irish gentleman sitting next to me on the flight from Bristol to Dublin. This Irish lad (he was our age) tried every which way to get me to come home with him, where I would stay with his family for the evening, he would then drive me to to Gallway from Belfast the next morning...stay until I finnished my business and then drive me back to Belfast where his family would welcome me for a long weekend. It was tempting to say the least. But being a leveled headed mother I kindly kept telling him no. Funny enough, I never felt threatened in any way. Had it been anywhere else in the world, I would have thought the guy was a nutter. We departed at Dublin airport, where he waited until I boarded my plane...and still trying to persuade me to stay with he and his family. *laughter*

My next experience was getting off in Gallway at 11:00 PM at night. Guys, this airport is smaller than Forty Fort airport! It was a nerve wracking landing as it was raining with gale force winds blowing the plane like a billowing sheet. (When I got on the connecting plane and saw duct tape on the wing I remember thinking to myself, God please get us to Gallway safely so I could see tomorrow.

Gallway airport was an experience. I had a driver pick me up in a Mercedes white limo. I thought ahhh, as I saw the limo, I could sit back and relax for our 30 min drive to Gallway. Nope, did not happen. This is where I had experienced the most lyrical cussing I had ever heard in my life. I can still laugh. Imagine a elegant Mercedes limo, but the most down to earth driver you could ever imagine. When he started using the word f***in, I was in awe. It just sounded so whimsical and non-offensive. I sat totally amused and chatty for the balance of the trip.

The best bed and breakfast I have ever stayed at in my travels was in Gallway. The ambience was perfect. It was better than being at home. Breakfast was incrediable. Fresh Irish soda bread, amy variety of whole grain cereals or porridage, fruits from Spain and Italy, farm fresh eggs, ham or bacon, strong Irish tea and newspapers from all over the world at my finger tips. I was the only guest and they still gave this treatment. I lingered over breakfast for over an hour just relaxing and being pampered. After my business meeting I spent the day in the city of Gallway. It was great. Cobbled streets and alleyways, shops galore to explore and and an area rich in history. It is a place I am planning to go back to in the very near future.

Both of you enjoy your trip while there. You know I love the English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh lifestyle. We Americans have lost a part of our culture with our fast paced materialistic lives. I loved living in England and travelling in the UK. The English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh have a love for animals and the environment that is second to none. They respect what they have. We tend to forget about the simplicity of life. Picinics or walks in the countryside, walking in the rain, knowing our neighbours, driving an old jalopy that can get us anywhere, anytime, even though it acts up once in awhile. Spontinaity in our fast paced lives. I would love nothing more than to go back and retire in England.

I haven't written for awhile as I have had some personal problems home. While I was in the States on business in March, my husband was in a bad car accident. Thank God he and everyone in the car is alive. We still don't know how they all survived...even with seat belts on. After that I got ill. I am awaiting a final date for surgery in the next day or two. I am a little nervous and my husband and I have weighed the options of having the surgery here or in the US. After weighing our facts we feel confident that it can been done here. It will be easier all the way around. My surgeon is part of a private hospital here that is very well run and has the most modern technology. Now my godchild is in the hospital. It looks like she has bone cancer. Illnesses like this cannot be treated in St. Lucia. The parents are not well-off and of course there is very limited money from other resources. I am watching this bright, active 3 year old deteroiate quickly as the government run hospital does it's best to find out the problem. We are having extreme difficulty finding blood donors. Most people are afraid of needles and wont donate the blood. She needs fresh blood as they are doing platelet transfusions. Imagine having to beg people to donate blood for a child. There have been some wonderful individuals from my company who have donated, but it's just not enough. Other people have come forward, but cannot give due to health reasons. It's a really frustraing situation.
It's been a rough 3 months, but through all of this God is with me. He is my foundation and my rock.
Rose, I want you to know that I still have your email in my inbox waiting for me to reply. I will reply. I just have been bombarded with one thing after another. When I am home after the surgery I will reply.

God bless everyone. You are all always in my prayers.