People / Carol is my best friend, and has been since 5th grade. She's generous, brilliant, kind and fun. I know how lucky I am to have such a wonderful friend in my life. Last year we met in Heathrow airport and traveled to Dublin together. We had the most fun ever, seeing the Book of Kells, Trinity College, little pubs and taking off for Kilkenny just because it sounded romantic. There's a song I like that says..."in Kilkenny..." and the rest of the song is about a handsome rover who has come to the end, and misses his one true love. Great stuff. Carol bought massive amounts of wool. I think every member of her family got a sweater. I bought a nubby white one and wore it for 6 weeks straight. Everyone who knew me grew to hate that sweater. It smelled like sheep! I finally had to retire it. I was afraid people might mistake the wool smell for me.

In Kilkenny, we were lured into a pub by a group of likely-looking men who saw us peeping in the door at the activity. "Come right in, ladies, yes indeed, welcome!" We giggled, entered, and sat in the back with old people and kids all mixed-up. Everyone seemed to enjoy everyone else's company. There seemed to be no terror of being infected by "uncoolness" in sitting next to one's elders. When I went up to the bar to get Carol a lemonade, the band pulled me into their circle and played a bit for me. Blushing but exhilirated, I returned to the table. What lovely fun people! Carol and I were flirted with by cabdrivers, hoteliers, waiters and the like. One young man, seeing me applying lipstick as I stood outside the Temple Bar exclaimed, "Stop! You're perfect! You needn't use anything..it's not posssible for you to be more beautiful.." Even if that's what they call the Blarney, it's pretty charming.