7 Million People in Ireland, 1 Photo Professor

Maybe the Irish are lucky, as the legend goes. We've definitely experienced enough of Irish luck to wonder if it's luck, or something bigger. Yesterday we drove all around the Connemara region, north of Galway. Beautiful rolling hills, rocky terrain and narrow little roads that afforded the left side of our car some close and personal time with the wildflowers lining the narrow roads. The timing of things continues to be perfect, along with the weather (blue skies,70 degrees with no humidity). With everything going so well, we were hardly surprised (yet greatly elated) to look over while driving past a wide spot in the road to see Pat Davison, my photography professor at UNC, grabbing a camera out of his rental car. We quickly pulled over and walked up to where Pat and his family were admiring the beautiful view of the Atlantic and had a wonderful half-hour reunion before we each continued on our way. Driving away, Rebecca and I were glowing and remarked how so many tiny things, like me pulling over for a 10-minute nap on the side of the road, had to happen in order for us to have noticed Pat and his family on the side of a remote road in Ireland. I knew he was going to be here, and hoped we'd run into him, but I feel so blessed to have enjoyed such a wonderful encounter. I still can hardly believe it. To add a sense of reality (I don't want all the blog readers to think this trip has been without its difficulties), Rebecca and I did miss dinner last night and ended up with a liquid diet of Guinness and pub crisps, as well as some doggy-like treats called Bacon Bites (with "real bacon taste"). The sun doesn't set until about 10:30 p.m. every night, and even after that it stays pretty light until 11 p.m. But we're trying to remember to eat at a normal time, like 6 p.m.