Nuala!

This little girl explains better than I can: thanks, YouTube.

We left Dublin via train from Connelly Station to visit Nuala Quinn, her husband, Gerry, and their son, Luke in Mohill, County Leitrim.

Nuala lives on a farm in rural Ireland (cue up every picturesque image of Ireland in your mind's eye and you've nailed Nuala's area.) and it's about a 2 hour train ride from Dublin.

She looks like a turtle.

This chicken really travels in style.

As Nuala walked around the wall of the station, I yelled, "NUALA!"

So, here's the thing: Nuala and I knew each other in high school, but mostly we were affiliated via our mutual friend, Karen Brady (hi, Karen Brady Woman!). Nuala played lacrosse; I played field hockey and ran track. Nuala was cool; I was not. But I've found there's something about Lakelanders and I'm perfectly comfortable meeting up with them and having a grand 'ol time.

Vivi and Luke looked at each other. Luke said, "do you want to go on the trampoline?"

We didn't see them again for hours.

Sean, the dog, couldn't handle being left out of the fun, so he climbed up, too.

They even ate dinner on the trampoline.

Some spring calves.

Vivi got to feed a calf.

Luke showing how it's really done.

Mama and babies

Gerry is a fan of poetry so we had a fantastic night reading poetry and one-act plays and talking about literature and we were up laaaaaaaaaaaaate.

This is how late we were up.

The next morning, though the adults felt a wee bit fragile, Gerry took Vivi out to feed the calf again.

Nuala made boxty for breakfast to go with the eggs Vivi made.

Then, too soon, it was back on the train for Belfast.

Back in Belfast!

This is a group of awesome pictures Karen Brady sent me. She still has them all these years later! These are from middle school (note the mullet) when Karen had a '50s dance at her house. We were obsessed with '50s music and whenever I hear one of the songs, I think of her and grin.