I was lucky to be able to spend my final 24 hours with some of the people who helped shape me as a person while growing up. I stayed with my childhood babysitter, Lucy, and her family. I had seen them for a quick coffee when I first arrived in Dublin three months ago, which was our first meeting in close to 20 years, but this time I was able to stay with them! It meant so much to spend my last night with them, reminisce about the past but also share highlights of my entire trip with them before anyone else.
They live in Drogheda which is a suburb of Dublin. We spent most of our time together just hanging out and chatting, but this morning we did a bit of touring in the town, mainly because the town is known for something completely random that I have not seen anywhere else in my travels: a preserved head. Saint Oliver Plunkett was decapitated after being hanged in 1681, and after different body parts have made their way around the world, his head has been preserved and put on display at the (beautiful) local Saint Peter's Church. It is pretty creepy, and kind of gross, but it was cool to see!
I believe people come in and out of your life for a reason and in addition to Lucy, Patrick and their family, I met so many incredible people along this journey who helped shape my experience one way or another – as I did for them as well.