Leave it to friends like Mr. Mike Griffin, aka Bob The Horse's Owner, to help me make lemonade out of a shit storm.
After showering and putting on CLEAN clothes that I've not seen since I left them in Killarney ten or twelve days ago, I walked back into town. Mike had planned accordingly, and when I neared the village circle where the horses and carriages congregate to drag tourists all over town, they all started singing. All of them. I've no idea what they were singing, but it was heartwarming. Who can feel sad with fifteen or twenty mics who smell like horses and leather all singing at the top of their lungs. Then they gave me some more words of encouragement and sent me to Murhpy's for lunch and a pint.
I normally enjoy being in pubs - even alone - but today's events have left me feeling a bit out of sorts. I'm not complaining and not trying to whine. I'm just not myself. I wandered around town for a bit, bought a Sudou book. and then headed back to my hotel to crash for the night. Pints with the guys no longer sounds like fun.
As I headed for the roundabout, the clopping of horses hooves got closer and closer. I stopped and stepped aside only to find Mike and Katie! He told me to get in. He and Katie wanted to show me around. He asked where I wanted to go, so I suggested Muckross Castle, if it wasn't too far for Ms. Katie. He pished and said that she loves the castle. (I highly doubt she gives a feck about the castle, but it was nice of him to say.) He sang and told lousy jokes in between my questions about training horses.
We arrived at the castle, which was beautiful. He said he and Katie would wait while I had a look-see. The sun had come out again (it does that on occasion) and the sky was beautiful. I tried to hurry because I knew they were waiting but...it was a castle. I did my best to make it quick and given my record, I did pretty well. When I returned, I asked if I could just pet Katie for a bit before she had to work again. Mike told me to have at it.
Ms. Katie is Bob the Horse's sister and much larger. She's also more friendly and - if it's possible - smells better than her brother. She was very affectionate and rubbed her forehead against my...um...chest...over and over. Eventually, Mike admitted that Ms. Katie has a bit of a boob fetish. I told her to go right ahead and do what she wished; I'd much rather get felt up by a horse than Mr. Happy Hands any way!
Turns out that Ms.Katie also loves mint livesavers. Mike keeps rolls of them in his pockets and she nibbled at them until he takes them out and hand feeds her two or three. She did have lovely breath.
After twenty minutes or so of loving on - and being loved on - by Katie, Mike drove me back to the village square. We said goodbye for perhaps the fourth time today, but this time I gave him a bear hug and didn't let go until it was awkward. Then I hugged tighter.
I came back to my room to put together a solid plan for tomorrow. I feel like today has been wasted. I've taken two buses, a taxi, and a horse carriage ride but haven't accomplished anything. I didn't put in any miles on the road and I wrecked a car. I feel restless and a bit blue.
Then I smell my hands. They were full of wonderful horse and leather smells. It makes me feel better. Then I remember that I somehow managed to make good friends in this small village so far from my home; friends that look out for me and are trying to make me happy. Then I look out my window and see the mountains and know that I climbed over them. I have much to be happy about.
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