Above all else, we are looking forward to hugging Cody, playing with Manolo, seeing our home and seeing Shea and Tessa later in the summer. We look forward to sleeping in our own bed! And I simply cannot wait to dig in my garden, rid it of the jungle of weeds that surely must be thriving there and plant some tomatoes, peppers and beans—maybe a young eggplant too. And what joy I will have in potting flowers for the porch and the deck. We wore long pants, long sleeves and jackets again today, but this time tomorrow, we will find instant summer! I wonder how it will feel to sleep in air-conditioned air tomorrow night rather than the naturally cool air we have enjoyed for so long now.

We had hoped to visit Cork today but we spent the last two days making long car trips. We were not eager to do it for a third day. Instead, we slept-in a bit then walked the neighborhood to the University of Limerick campus. School is not in session at all now, so it was quiet, almost deserted, but what a nice place. It's a sprawling campus with large green spaces between the 60's-70's modern-style low-rise buildings that almost blend into the landscape. It is quite a beautiful place. It sits on the Shannon River and its grounds' hallmark is the Living Bridge that spans across several channels of the river with minimal support. At certain points as it curves, a gentle bounce can be felt as people walk down its path. We saw nesting swans and ducks, both with babies on the banks of the river below the bridge. We met a gentleman who was walking Toby, his grandchildren's dog. He told us he had been watching the pair of swans nest and warm their eggs for weeks. The eggs hatched about a week ago.

He went on to tell us about the River Shannon and how a very expensive power plant had been constructed on a specially built channel of the river in 1924 with controversial great expense. It was that power plant, however, that provided the people of Limerick with self-generating electricity during the war that began in 1939. He said he is 85 years old; he had worked at the power plant for all his life. He lost his wife of 52 years five years ago. He said he still struggles with the loss but he has family nearby. Stan told him we are in our 43rd year of marriage. He looked at Stan and said, "Then you should wrap her in cotton wool and keep her in a safe place." Tears! Big huge tears merely popped from my eyes! I had to look away! It was a God moment, truly it was.

On our return trip from Kerry yesterday we passed an interesting town, Adare. We decided to return today. It is only about a twenty-minute drive from Limerick. Rain had started, not just one of those on and off-again showers; no, this one was set in for the day. No worries, we are becoming very accustomed to going about our business in the rain - like everyone else here. Adare is a resort town that attracts big tourist crowds. It has a church that dates from the 1200's and a castle too. It also has quaint but pricey shops, one after another in cottages with thatched roofs. It has pubs and restaurants as well, offering authentic Irish food - translation, that means Irish Stew, Fish and Chips, or Bacon and Cabbage. The rest of the menu lists virtually anything included on menus found in almost any restaurant in the UK or in the USA for that matter. It's the Irish atmosphere that is so cool though, mirrors, rich woods, small tables, long bars, and happy people. Leaving Ireland tomorrow, we just had to have cabbage, bacon and fresh mash. Delicious!!! I'm saying delicious, and healthy too!!

From our photos and stories, I may have presented Ireland, Scotland and even England as cold, damp places where people live in tiny thatched roofed cottages heated by coal or peat blocks. Yes, some do live in tiny thatched roofed houses; some live in tiny, stacked apartment buildings too. Some people are poor and some are rich, just like us at home. Quite often, people in the oldest of building are folks who have paid grand amounts to live in these historical structures—and the interiors have been remodeled to include the latest design and living conveniences. Still there are others who live in newer homes so grand that one must wonder, where do they get the money? Just to set the record straight, the UK is wealthy. They have some healthy commerce going on and at this moment, their economy is rocking.

As much as I long to see our kids, our people and our home at home, I could go on living just like this forever . . . moving from place to place, visiting all the world, meeting people and being charmed by what the day holds. This trip has been especially good because we know without a doubt that we have roots on this continent, most likely the western part. We have met no one who claims us yet; but we've met no one who denies us either.

Ta-ta! And Sláinte!