Travels

Today is the last day of July 2026. Hard to believe this year is half over but it is. 

For the July 4th holiday, we went back to Bellingham for a few days. Four full days + two for travel.  The trip out was an adventure with our shuttle bus getting a flat tire on the way up. We were late getting to town by 8, later than our original time of 5:30.  Ugh.  We picked up the tent al car then made a food stop for Joe at DQ and a Trader Joe stop for me.  For some reason, Ann asked us to stay elsewhere. Fran offered her house to us so we stayed with them. I was a little nervous about it as it had been several years since we’d last stayed but it was fine. I love the way Fran and I can talk to each other for hours, always have.

While we were in WA, a tornado blew through Huron and caused a lot of property damage. Trees and roof mostly but still scary. I’m glad we weren’t there for it. Indie was staying with Kaycee Tschetter and family while we were gone.  I checked in on them and was told they were fine, just shaken.  We also got updates on Indie who was having fun with their dogs. (Indie needs a playmate). 

Day 2, Friday-  we met BPD crew at Woods.  Dave Richards, Carr Lanham, Scott Snider, Melissa Locke, Mike Johnson. It was good to see them. Just like old times.  Mikey’s wife has Alzheimer’s which came as a shock.  Kyla Lanham showed up and we got to chat, mostly about Brooks. I was brought up to speed on that saga. 

We went to see Ann and visited with her for a time, taking her to dinner. She dotes on Maxine, putting her needs first.  I admit I was short with her as she dragged her feet getting ready to go out.  It felt like we were dealing with a child.  In some ways, she is, I guess. We ate at COA where she flirted with the very young server.  She’s terrible but it gave us all a good laugh. I shouldn’t have been so short with her and I’m sorry I was. 

Saturday was the 4th. Joe and I went to the Farmers Market. He’d never been so it was an experience. We picked up berries and flowers for the Bolden’s who were kind enough to feed us. I drove around Bellingham reminding myself of familiar places. It was good to be back. That evening we hung out with the Millers. Just us and them, David and Blakely and Her boyfriend, Shay.  Yep, her bfs name is Shay.  😳

We had planned to watch fireworks but skipped them in lieu of sleep. We’ll see fireworks next year. 

Sunday was our last full day before heading home.  We attended mass at Assumption and ran into Brigid Adams there.  Brigid was our church wedding coordinator who has since moved to SoDak. Small world! 

We stopped to see Ann and the Millers for one final good bye. Our last meal was with Fran and John and Susan came over after sailing for a quick chat. She looks happy.  Married life suits her.  

We were on the road by 3 am and made it home without incident. 

A funny thing happened on our way to Spain...

We never made it. Instead, we ended up in Ireland as compensation for the heartbreak that was the result of our almost-trip. 

Tracy invited us to stay with her and it was a good stay. We hung out with their dogs, Joe met Liam and we had girl time. Oh, how I missed that. The flight was seamless in First class. No complaints.

On Wednesday, Joe and I left Dublin for Galway so he could research his lineage. We rode the bus and met 3 American girls at the depot: Alexis, Campbell and Elizabeth. Sucj beautiful, sweet girls who were working and living in Spain (ha ha ha).  They were headed to Galway to visit friends so they opted to stay in touch with us while there. So kind!

We stayed at The Hardiman across from Eyre Square. The room was decent and the area was nice. We got a full breakfast every morning. Our first meal was at Cava Bodega - a Spanish tapas restaurant.  To say the meal was excellent is an underservice.  We shared pork belly, spinach, chorizo, egg tortilla and Joe actually ordered (and ate!) octopus. There wasn't a bad choice in the group. We ate until we couldn't eat anymore then made our way to Taakees bar.  It was standing room only but we managed to get a table with 6 college boys. They were having a good time and even got a little cheeky with Joe. The Astronaut kid was the funniest. 

Friday, we rode the Hop On bus and got off in Salt Hill. It rained most of the day so touring wasn't great but we made the most of it.  We had lunch at the Galleon - I had Shepherd's Pie that was amazing. After lunch, we spent time at the Altaquarium. Pretty extensive considering the size. Dinner was at Busker Brown's back in Galway. The live singers sang American song. I admit I was disappointed as I wanted to hear more traditional Irish music. Still, a good time. Unfortunately, during the day, Joe lost his wallet. Despite fervent prayer, it wasn't found. Joe discovered a denied charge on his credit card though. Ugh, people! That put a small damper on our trip. Then we learned that Tucker, who was staying with Indie at Jake's, had stopped eating. He wasn't doing well so we made the decision to let him go. That broke me. I should have been there for him but I wasn't. I hope he knows how much I loved him. We both did. 

While in Galway, Joe got in touch with Michael McTighe who lives in Sligo. He was pretty stoked about finding a possible relation. Unfortunately, we weren't about to  make a connection in person as time in Galway was short. 

Saturday, Joe reported his wallet lost. We stopped for lunch at Coffee on the Canal where we met two American girls who worked there: Sarah and Emma. They were there in cooperation with a Christian group who spread the gospel to college students. Amazing! And I drank the BEST hot chocolate ever. Those young women gave me hope for our future, that's for sure. We went to mass at the Galway Cathedral then had supper at a Turkish restaurant that offered a variety of food. Instead of going to another crowded bar, we went to the bar in the hotel called MacNeils.  A young man named Liam sang for us. The crowd was small. Liam played American songs. He had a lovely voice but I wanted the songs I knew so I asked him for that. He ended up singing Galway Girl, Molly Malone, Danny Boy and Wild Rover. That got the "crowd" involved. A farmer and his wife, Shawn and Ann Powell from Atherol sat across from us. We talked, drank and sang. It was a good time.

We headed back to Dublin by train on Sunday. Joe was anxious to leave and we ended up taking an earlier train than the one we got tickets for. It was packed but we got seats. A tour group from Trinity College boarded in Atherol and took up every inch of open space. We grabbed a taxi back to Tracy's, driven by Mohammad. He was pleasant. It was Mother's Day so Tracy was with Emily so we hung out with Liam until she got home. All of our time together was spent talking. I so enjoyed that. Liam is a walking encyclopedia so we learned a lot. 

Monday, we went to the Hill of Tara. It was windy and wet so we weren't there too long. We enjoyed coffee and gelato in the cafe there.  On the way home, we stopped at a roadisde vending machine and bought eggs and potatoes. Crazy! Tracy made us filet mignon for supper, cooked on lava stones. It was delicious. 

Tuesday, after breakfast, we went to the St Paddy's Day parade in downtown Dublin. Apparently, there was 600,000+ people there. Sure seemed like it. And the weather cooperated, giving us sunshine. Talk about a bucket list! So fun. We stopped at a bar but it was so crowded, it wasn't enjoyable. Dinner was at Tracy's favorite bbq place called Smokin' Bones.  After the parade ended, every bar, restaurant, etc was instantly packed. We were lucky to get in after a half hour wait. How the place fit so many people in it is a mystery. But we got BBQ is Ireland. Yum!

Wednesday, we headed home. I was sad to say goodbye to Tracy but we were ready to be home and begin to grieve our Tucker.

Tucker

 My memories of Tucker

- a skinny mess

-lived life on a chain

-ruined a brand new purse

-sniffed out treats in a coat pocket behind a closed closed door

-turned into the Tasmanian devil when in a crate

-used to watch me drive to work every morning.

-loved to run on trails

-loved Louie, Sounder. He never met a dog he didn't like. 

-loved rolling on my bed while yipping loudly, mess up the blanket

-never left my side when I was sick

-loudly enjoyed certain foods

-always been a moaner

-loved the snow

-would chase deer out the back door but always return home

-loved farm life

-went to two walk abouts with Maggie, crossing the highway on their way north

-loved to swim Lake Whatcom

-always managed to get other dogs at the dog park to chase him

-went swimming after canada geese on lake whatcom once. I didn't think he'd ever come back.

-threw my back out once when I was prepping to walk him. Had to call Susan to walk him. 

-loved Fran, Susan and Ann. 

-made the funniest whimpering noises when playing with a squeak toy

My constant companion through it all. I'm so thankful you came into my life. There will never be another Tucker. 

You can run free now, Tucker. Open fields, geese and lakes as far as the eye can see. Maggie, Jack and Bonnie are there to kep you company. 

I love you. Always. 

Lost AND Found

 For Lent, I’m doing the Hallow challenge of 40 days of prayer.  Today’s talk was given by Fr Mike Schmidt. It was about the titles we give ourselves.  He told the story of the prodigal son and his brother’s response to their father’s reaction to the return of the younger. Fr said the elder had reduced himself to the position of a slave, not recognizing his position in his father’s eyes. Fr ended by asking what my title would be.

Recently I’ve been remembering my brokenness and shame. It’s as if my past is trying to drag me down to that low point where I was lost, unloved, bitter, shamed. It has been a constant struggle to remember the price that was paid for my salvation. 

But Fe Mike is right.  I can’t live my life by the title I gave myself.  I was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.