Gettysburg Tour

Marilyn O wrangled twenty-one of us for a day trip tour of Gettysburg National Military Park. The weather was sunny and fair and the group enthralled by the in-depth and sometimes humorous history lesson provided by licensed battlefield tour guide John V. (son of our Marie V).

After the tour, we stopped at O'Rorke's Family Restaurant to talk about the stories we heard. More about the restaurant's namesake follows.

Near the monument to the 44th New York Infantry is another for the 140th New York Infantry Regiment, featuring Col. O'Rorke [sic]. Tourists rub his bronze nose for luck, adding a wee bit of a gleam to it.

Col. O'Rorke's Shined Proboscis

In our own cars, we drove to the Irish Brigade and Father Corby memorials.

At the Pennsylvania State Memorial, we viewed a plaque naming an ancestor of Jim Ca, then posed on the steps of the huge monument.

Dining Out

On a brilliant, cloudless day, with the leaves shimmering in vibrant color, twelve RKIDs (Barb, Jim Ca, Bill, Maddy, Toni, David D, Connie, Marilyn O, Sonja, Tom and Mary B), all organized by Marie V, journeyed to Hagerstown to enjoy fine German Bavarian cuisine at the Schmankerl Stube on October 24.

Check out the hearty plates of sauerbraten, schnitzel and wurst! Plus it was Jim Ca's birthday, so we couldn't let that pass by. A slice of mocha cake accompanied by a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday was presented to him.

Then there were the brunches. At the First Saturday brunch in November, we had a large turnout at the Woodside Deli — Marilyn O and Obie, Christine, Mary B, Marie V, Michelle, Kathryn, Mary Ann, Sonja, Tom, Jack, Maddy and Bill.

Killarney House and Homestead Gardens

Several RKIDs drove out on a glorious November morning to the Killarney House in Davidsonville, MD for a brunch that was arranged by Sonja. Jim Ca, Barb, Kathryn, Connie, Tom, Maddy and Bill, Christine, Michelle, Toni and David D., Dick and Kathi R., Chuck and Clare, Kate and Dan O sampled delectable Irish-themed dishes whilst chatting away.

 

Following that, many visited the Homestead Gardens, which was all decked out in its Christmas finest. One of the bigger attractions is the vast G-Gauge model train display. The engineer even rang the bell and tooted the horn for the kids, big and small!

Games Day

Twelve gamers shared in the fun one afternoon in November at the home of David M. and Kathy O. Jovial rivalry at the board tables and at table tennis ensued with Kathi and Dick R, Marie V, Emma, Jerry, Obie, Marilyn O, Sandy, Marilyn W, and Colleen.

The new Irish movie, Small Things Like These, received rave reviews from several sources, but the 13 RKIDs and friends who saw it on Veteran's Day had mixed comments. Some loved it; many thought it was too slow; and one person slept through a good bit of it. The movie goers were: Jim Ca, David D, David M, Kathy O, Christine (and her friend Debbie), Mary Ann, Maura, Obie, Marilyn M, Russell (and his daughter Jen), and Marilyn O.

After the film, Barb joined the group at the Westfield/Montgomery Mall Food Court to sound off about the performance by Cillian Murphy, the surprise role of Emily Watson, the reason why Sarah was in the coal bin, the meaning of the money given to Bill Furlong by Sister Mary, and the value of the rather surprise ending.

As always, the best part was being together.