We on a bus with two dozen friends, old and new, and most everyone has been sick at one time or another over the ten days we've bounced around the entire southern coast.
We made two stops at Irish medical clinics where there is no waiting, the doctor is friendly, payment is 45 Euro for the visit and health care access here beats the Hell out of the crazy system we have in the states.
The Irish have a pride in their country that America lacks too.
In the Pubs, bands sing the old songs and everyone joins in.
Outsiders are welcome and the first question is "Where ye from?"
"Georgia," I reply.
"I know but two things about it," the leader of the band smiles. "A man got very famous because of peanuts and there's a nice Golf tournament there."
"How do ye get famous from peanuts?" someone yells.
"He became their President," is the answer.
"Did he play Golf?"
"No."
"That's why he was a terrible President then."
Then they launch into a 15 minute song with lots of interaction with the extremely crowded Pub.
Ireland is more playful than Americans are in spite of its wretched history, British occupation and the constant chance of rain.
The people here are extremely proud that they have reached peace between Catholics and Protestants and, though deeply committed to their respective faiths. they acknowledge the value of the other.
St. Patrick was not a Catholic, I am told. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland but there was no Church. He was not Protestant either. He was for all.
No one here is as rushed either.
People sleep late. Shops don't open until noon. Meals take more than an hour. There are no "To-Go" cups here. Everyone takes time with everyone else.
And Ireland sits in the middle of the Gulf Stream and its green countryside if covered with Tropical colors.
Everyone drinks Guinness.
I'm struck this morning that America could learn a lot from the Irish.
We've helped them in times of trouble.
Maybe someday we'll be open to them returning the favor.
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