A BLARNEY CASTLE TRADITION

In 1975, my 70-year old grandmother traveled to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone. Lois Baughman Yerkes was thick woman, with a raucous laugh and a twinkle in her eye. She was also a wealthy woman. Old money and orange groves. Her family built the Claremont Boys School in Claremont, California. But to know her was to reason she was just a kindly older lady who loved to spoil her grandchildren. In 1975, most youngsters thought 30-year-olds were old and 70-year-olds were ancient. Yet, there she was. On top of Blarney Castle after climbing 125 narrow, slick, and winding stairs to reach the narrow parapet that leads to the stone.

So, I reckoned I would extend the tradition, and do the same. I did so on the very last day I was 70 - August 16th, 2022. So here’s my Grams, and here’s me, kissing the Blarney and acquiring the gift of gab —- as if I needed help.