The Best Thing I Ever Purchased

In high school my crazy English teacher, Linda Hammond always took a group of people to Europe over spring break. Not only is she crazy, Linda Hammond is an old, exuberant outrageous woman! She is very into the theatre and she always directs the plays that go on at the high school. She has a great passion for teaching and she is obsessed with Europe!

I was lucky to be one of the students who attended the trip to Europe over spring break. We ventured to England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland- in that order. There were spectacular views everywhere we went. London had men with tall hats, symbols of the queen and even an interesting clock- Big Ben, ever heard of it?! Scotland had men in skirts, wearing absolutely no underwear. Needless to say, it was an interesting culture shock.

When I finally made it to Ireland, I felt at home. My family is relatively seventy five percent Irish and many of my ancestors have derived from there. Throughout the whole entire trip I was looking for some sort of token so that I could remember the whole experience (other than the hundred billion pictures I took). I went into a little Irish gift shop located outside a church. In the gift shop I found a ring, called a claddagh . It is a ring that has two hands holding a heart, with a crown. A symbol I have seen many times before. My grandmother and mother both have jewelry that contains the symbol and it was something that really struck my eye. I then decided to purchase it-what the heck it was from Ireland of course!

Rightfully so, I am incredibly happy that I purchased the ring. I wear it every day and it is a nice symbolic reminder of that trip! I soon learn exactly what the ring symbolized. The ring represents love, loyalty and friendship. Those traits are great traits to have, traits I hope to carry with me forever!

-mkbizz