THE UNTOLD STORY IN IRELAND

The name tags were placed above the coaches seats. Our coach driver, Anthony, was at the helm ready to start. All the passengers had been accounted for, except two, which would continue to be an adventure itself. Greg, our travel director, had prepared everything, including all the behind “flush”, that would magically appear throughout the trip. Yes, he had done this a thousand times but it never got old. He knew the beginning and the end of the destination but it was always the journey in between that was a mystery….as we may call it “the back story”. We met in the hotel lobby, and, after a brief introduction, everyone stepped onto the magical coach, ready for their Irish dreams to come true. It would later become a daily ritual for some Irish luck to sing the song “ Here comes the sun”, because in Ireland you need it! Over a cup of tea, a long night after dinner, a visit to a Catholic Church, an Irish whiskey or another of many Guinness beers, the untold stories began to emerge. She wore a special scarf so that her 15 year daughter, who had passed away too soon , would always be with her on her adventures. The diagnosis of stage four breast cancer. A survivor of two cancers. A promise to his Irish wife he would do the trip for both of them. Returning to the Catholic Church, who’s name was the one they got married in. The widow makers heart. Each of us sought to make every moment one to remember. And that we did. We partied like the young, ate like the rich, drank like a drunkard Irish sailor, and laughed so that it woke even the leprechauns and fairies alike. Okay, maybe that was the other tour group, but we could if we wanted too! We came together with the hopes of fulfilling our bucket list but ended up with a new family…our new Irish family. We may never meet again, but for just that one magical journey, the untold stories shared will be forever held close to our hearts with the hopes that God will bring continued JOY in the days ahead. There are MANY more stories to come forth, but for this one, I want to lift a pint of Guinness to our new family and pray for God’s special Irish blessing;

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.