For Michael, Shawn, and Corey today began at 4:30 a.m. when they left our B&B, the Boffin Lodge, to go 5 miles down the road to climb Croagh (the Gaelic word for mountain) Patrick. As most people know worldwide, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish honor him with a national holiday celebrating his contributions to his people. History tells us that St. Patrick escaped from his Norman captors and returned to Ireland, joined a monastery, and became a priest. He traveled throughout Ireland converting the Druid pagens to Catholicism. He spent many weeks in solitude at the top of the mountain that bears his name. Each year on this Sunday of the month (called Reek Sunday), thousands of Christians, fitness freaks, and Catholics using the climb as an atonement for their sins.  You see them, all ages and shapes, struggling up and down the mountain, frequently falling, with their rosaries wrapped tightly around their hands. This year’s crowd was estimated at 25,000 pilgrims. Every climber that I have talked with following their climb describes the 8 1/2 mile, 4 1/2 hour climb as a “religious experience”. When you see Croagh Patrick up close, it is an imposing 2500 feet tall challenge. Croagh Patrick can be seen for miles around. I am so proud of the three of them for accomplishing this tremendous feat. Hopefully within the next day, Michael, Shawn, and Corey will post their thoughts and pictures describing their experience. It is worth noting that they will describe a Mountain Rescue team’s efforts to remove two climbers by helicopter who could not meet the rigorous challenge.

Shannon has been a real trooper hobbling along on her crutches keeping up with her other family members, refusing to be the weak link.  She and Tracy spent the day at the lodge, Tracy studying for her upcoming Board exams and Shannon studying for her pharmaceutical tests related to the new products she will be selling.

I love our family dearly and for many reasons, but one quality I especially like is our collective family wit. I have not stopped laughing since we all landed in the motel in Chicago the night before we left for Ireland.  How much fun are we having?  You will have to ask Michael to share with you all the Tracy witticisms he has been writing down in his daily journal.