Treasures from Far Away Lands
Some people collect postcards, some pick up key chains, or fancy shirts to remember where they've been. I realise that my material collection is a bit sparse from this trip.
There are the seashells. Two of these are from Clogherhead, where I went to a friend's childhood home.
And one is from the beach where I stumbled upon a tractor rally as I was enroute to Dingle to see the dolphin.
And for some reason I found myself collecting bits of wool on this past weekend trip. There were just a lot of sheep everywhere we looked and bits of wool caught on thorny rose bushes and fences as we walked. (And we did a LOT of walking!!) So I started putting it in my pocket. Now what I will do with it, I have no idea. But it's a much cooler memory for me than a key chain. (Don't get me wrong I do like a good key chain, but this is seemed a better souvenir for this trip.)
And I have to tell you, I have hit a point in life where 'things' are just less important than the memories. So I'm taking tons of pictures and writing a lot of stories to remind me of what an adventure it is I've embarked upon.
I've got a good fistful of this stuff right now. If I get enough of it along the way maybe I'll have someone make me a sweater.