“Vonnie, she’s our girl!”
Vonnie, delightful Vonnie!
I’d like you to “meet” this inspiring person…
One of our fellow travelers in Ireland a few weeks ago
Vonnie…
an inspiration!
89 years old…. 89 years young!
as cheerful, optimistic, strong and enthusiastic as anyone could ever be!

~

~
And her niece Eileen….
another joyful, independent, kindred spirit
Two magical women from Australia…youthful, energetic and spirited!
Twinkles in their eyes and hearts!
Sharing their joy and enthusiasm with everyone they met…
A joy to be with!

~

~

We celebrated Vonnie’s birthday on the last evening of our trip…
A celebration of  many years of warmth, spirit, heart, exploration and magic…
Just look at Vonnie’s face….
just look at the wonderful spirit shining there!

~

~

Vonnie and Eileen weren’t there for just our 10 day trip around Ireland…   they had been on the previous 10 day trip, exploring other magical places in Ireland. (having flown in from Australia, through AbuDabai for that tour)

~

  And then?

~

During the week between the two trips, they rented a car and Eileen drove them around many other parts of Ireland, including an exploration into Northern Ireland…what a pair! Vonnie and Eileen… an adventuresome pair!

~

And so…
our birthday celebration with Vonnie…
a celebration of spirit, enthusiasm, warmth and kindness!

~

By the way…
we were celebrating Vonnie’s 89th birthday!

~

There were several songs written and sung for Vonnie…
written especially for her by others on our trip,
and sung to her after dinner…
joyful, happy songs
celebrations of Vonnie’s wonderful spirit,
celebration of the  glowing effect her spirit brought to all of us as we traveled together

~

The first wonderful song…
“Did you ever hear the story of how Vonnie got her name?”

~

~

And the second song…
with a variation on words from the Irish song,
“Irish Agricultural Girl”
(Kathy changed a few of the words )

~

~

Vonnie…one of a kind!
Thank you, Vonnie,
for sharing your strong, joyful, enthusiastic spirit with us all!
thank you from all of us!

~

~

Vonnie
What a delight!

~

~

~

video of that traditional Irish song,
so Vonnie and her huge Australian family can view and listen to it

~

~

~

original lyrics from “Irish Agricultural Girl”

An Agricultural Girl
(traditional)

If all the Girls That's in the Town were Bundled up together,
The Girl I Love would beat Them All in every kind of Weather,
The Rain can't Wash the Powder off, because She because She does not Wear It,
Her Face and Figure is all Her own, that's the Truth, for I Declare It.

CHORUS:
For She's a Great Big, Stout Lump of an Agricultural Irish Girl,
She never Paints nor Powders, for Her Figure is all Her own,
She can Strike that Hard You'd Think You were Hit by the Kick of a Mule,
The Full of the House of Irish Love is Mary Ann Malone.
(or: But full of your arms with Irish love is Mary Ann Malone. )

She has no Grand Education, for She's only Passed Her Letters
But for anything like a Lady, Faith, You'll seldom find Her Betters,
She does not Speak Italian, or Read the Fashion Pages,
Whenever There's a Strike about She's the Divil to Kick for Wages.

She was only Seventeen Last Grass, and Still Improving Greatly,
I wonder what She will be Like when Her Bones have set Complately :-)
You'd Think Your Hand was in a Vice whenever She goes to Shake It,
And if There's any Free Beer about She's the Darlin' Girl to take It......

~