Oh to Walk in Mayo
by
Bob Tackett
My favorite television shows are documentaries of other places. I guess I've seen shows about every country in the world many times over. But of all of the countries that I've seen in books or on TV, only one land seems to be actually inviting me to visit it... Ireland. I don't mean the people in advertisements, but the place itself. If I'll ever go to another country in the future, I don't know, but if I do, it will be Ireland.
While cruising the internet one day (probably looking at things Irish), I stumbled across the Castlebar Four Days Walk page, put there by Michael Hambly. Surely, this event is a prime opportunity to see Ireland on its own terms. I doubt I would have found out about it except for that web page.
Well, I've never been on a *real* vacation in my life, and started thinking about going to Ireland. "It won't be as much fun" I thought to myself, "going by myself." I mentioned going to Ireland to a friend who enjoys talking wistfully about his Celtic heritage. He thought it was a great idea. However, for some strange reason, he was wondering how much ship fare would cost, and how long that would take. I couldn't imagine the reason for this question, and dismissed it as ramblings. But, as I tried to get a commitment out of him to go, he finally fessed up that he was afraid of flying. Maybe I should tell him I'll make fun of him on the world wide web if he doesn't do it.
So, I'm still wondering if this will be the year I go.
But, I'll keep thinking about it until I do, and Lord
willing, I will. It should be an interesting experience to
wonder if I'm criss-crossing paths with my ancestors.
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