William Hardy

Bitche is near the Maginot Line in the Alsace Lorraine region of France.  The bunkers were a famous French strategy to prevent Germany from invading France (again!) after World War One.  It didn’t work.  The Nazis went through Belgium.   The region is full of green rolling hills.  In each valley is a village of … Read moreBitche and the Maginot Line

We have been to Strasbourg three times.  And, every time I come to Strasbourg I am amazed at its beauty.  I remember reading in French language books about the city and its Gothic cathedral and thinking that it was just another old French city with a big church.  Then I came.   We went with … Read moreStrasbourg, The Magnificent City

We returned to Saarbrucken to wait for the call from the airlines about our lost baggage in Luxembourg.  It was fortunately also a wonderful opportunity to shop.  The shopping area was nice, and it was a lot larger than the I remember.   This is a city on the river Saar in Germany.  It is … Read moreWaiting in Saarbrucken

The flight to Amsterdam was shorter than I expected. . 90 minutes.  We had allowed an hour to go from that flight to the flight to Luxembourg.  It took the whole hour!  Not only did you have to traverse about 2 miles of airport, but you had to go through customs again.  Fortunately, we look … Read moreLuxembourg and Lost Baggage

It was freezing.  The brisk Irish wind sliced through my light California jacket and gray turtle neck tee shirt.  We were on our way to the aiport for our plane to Amsterdam, and then on to Luxemburg to see René and Elsy.  We had to wait outside the Hotel Clayton in Dublin for the shuttle … Read moreA Reflection on England and Ireland

I can see the Aran Islands in the distance.  Beautiful, off the coast near Galway.  The overhead speaker is alternately in Gaelic and English.  Eight hundred years after coming under the control of the English and / or the Normans, about 6% of the population still can communicate in Gaelic. Our taxi driver says there … Read moreLeaving Galway

As I looked in at Harold, our catcher, I knew he was probably worried.  The batter, their cleanup hitter, had just hit my best fastball 250 feet down the right field line and it crashed into a wooden barrier with such force that it startled the umpire, who stopped the game for a second.  But, … Read moreThe Pearl City Tigers, A Team of Destiny

So, the last day in Galway ended in the Glenlo Abbey Dining Room with soup, mashed potatoes and two lattes.   It was a fitting end to a day of freezing wind and rain and 9 holes of golf in traditional Irish conditions.   On the walk back to the apartment we walked on Circular Road … Read moreCircular Road

I walked to the village center of Galway this morning.  All the central streets had been turned into paved shopping areas.  Earlier in the week, I stopped to watch a Gaelic dancer nearby. . along with a crowd of students, tourists and locals.  I was surprised at how much money was being thrown in.  You … Read moreA Delicate Touch on the Guitar

As long as I am alive I know there is always another chance, another opportunity to change and improve on the many things I have done or said.  There is no time for regret.  That is just a waste of time.     From time to time, I find it easy to think about how … Read moreThe Star of Bethlehem