I recently had a day that I just told myself, 'this is going to be a day to relax!' I've been overwhelmed lately with personal and professional issues, so I changed my schedule, and did a quick road trip.  A buddy of mine had a job interview in York Pa, and I told him I'd drive him down and I could visit my new niece, Ava.  My younger brother and his wife Julie live in York. She is only a few months old and is such an interesting kid. 

After mass, we got on the road and the weather was gorgeous. Great drive down.  We visited with the baby around lunch, which was very therapeutic.  I tried to get Ava to say 'Uncle Buck' and she kept smiling and laughing and spitting.  Most women do that to me, so I was used to it.  Then, I took my buddy downtown for his interview, put a few quarters in the parking meter and sniffed out an Irish Pub within about 5 minutes. 

Irish Pubs are usually full of life, music and drunks.  So is the German Hofbrauhaus, but the big difference is the Irish have fun.  If you get into a bar fight at a German Tavern, there are usually grudges held for a long time afterwards.  In an Irish Pub when a fight breaks out, after about 5 minutes the guy you are pounding begins to pound a few pints with you.  Yep, you begin a brawl and forget what you' re brawling about, and then begin brewing (drinking).   

I arrived at  1:30 in the afternoon and the pub looked like this....

 IT WAS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!

I immediately took the Norm Peterson stool.  Ordered some Irish Food and some 'water of life', whiskey.  Watched the golf tournement on the tube, and read the newspaper about the new basball team in York called THE REVOLUTION.  The bar tender and I kabitzed for about an hour.  It was the perfect calm for me.  I haven't been this relaxed since several of the taverns with the ocean in view in Key West.  Everyone needs to have an outlet.  This was mine.  It couldn't have been any better.  So, simple, yet  refreshing.

I loved it.  I almost went out and put more money in the meter, but my buddy soon joined up with me, and we both ordered some Reuben Sandwiches and he chugged a Guiness. Yuck!  That stuff puts hair on parts of your body where follicles shouldn't grow.  I love Irish Pubs.  I'm sure they are even better in Ireland.  I've never had a bad or boring time in one.  The night life is so much fun.  Irish Drinking songs and Celtic Music get me jigging.

The framed photos were incredible. There had to be a million stories to go with these photos.  Pictures of common folk of Ireland.  The photos were mostly black and white, but the faces on these people were awesome.  The lines and wrinkles and features displayed many miles and feats that these people must have endured in their lives. There were Irish quotes, cliches and limericks posted all over the place.  As I looked at all the sayings and photos and signs on the walls of this pub, I could only think, "if these walls could talk"... and I was in a pub!  Can you imagine the stories people must've told in this place?

I was feeling quite nostalgic and loving everyone, then my buddy threw me in my car and drove me home.