Her 2nd big island - Mim memory du jour

Three cheers to the Lach Pitcairns - parents & kinder - for chipping in to give Mim a terrific giftie in thanks for her years of devoted, inspired TLC!!!  Their pooled money was envisioned as a fund to get her back to Hawaii, but another island beckoned her.  She asked - "Would you mind if I used it to go to Ireland?" 

Away she flew, taking off from JFK.  Mom & I went up to the rooftop so we could see the iconic shamrock on the tail fin as it took off.  It was dark out when the flight's wheels lifted, but a light spotlighted the green shamrock  - what a thrilling sight!  She was on her way!!

Mim had a glorious 4+ weeks, rambling around first Ireland, then taking the train to Northern Ireland & finally back south.  She bused & walked, even took pony carts & occasionally drove.  

 

I’d love to have the letters Mim sent home about her travels – she was enchanted by the land & people, staying with families who rented out rooms rather than conventional places.  Mom saved them, but I sent them off to Mim years ago.  Oh, to have held onto them!  

 Mim LOVED the Giants Causeway!

She loved to tell about her arrival in Northern Ireland, the train pulling into Belfast Central.  Just as Mim’s car was about to enter the station, a brick came crashing through her window.  She talked about brushing bits of glass out of her hair for the rest of the day.

But Mim’s favorite tale of that magical trip had nothing to do with Ireland or the Irish.  It happened when she was heading home, flying out of Shannon back to JFK.

 

In the Duty Free Shop, she heard an young, adamant American voice, speaking emphatically but inaudibly.  The person being spoken to said clearly, “No way.”  The other speaker continued, still unclear but determined.  Again, the other voice replied, “You’re daff.”  Finally, the first voice was loud, clear & INSISTENT – “I’m telling you, that’s Miss Elsa’s sister over there!”

                   

It turned out that the Lemole parents & brood were also on their way home from an Irish holiday, booked on the same flight.  Emily Jane urged Mim to call home & wave us off from picking her up, that they’d drop her by.  She thanked them, but turned them down, explaining that I’d  be disappointed to miss the trip to & from JFK.

Reality Check:  I almost throttled her.  As much as I love driving to Manhattan, the drive to JFK has no allure, is almost 100% what we’d refer to as a “trash drive.”  And she turned down a ride home just so I wouldn’t have to miss the “pleasure” – arrrggghhhh (said with an Irish brogue).