"Daddy, What's a Hamill?"

Each chapter will start out with either a myth or a legend of the Irish people. There are many to choose from, and this is the first one:

Leprechauns are Ireland's most famous fairies, and certainly the luckiest for a mortal to meet. The leprechaun's main job is shoemaking, as fairies constantly wear out their shoes from incessant dancing. If you meet a leprechaun, here are the three things you must know:

1. He always carries a purse with two coins. One is magic and always replenishes itself after being spent.
   
2. If you catch him he will usually give you the other coin. While you are examining it, he will make his getaway.
   
3. Leprechauns know the location of buried treasure, and if you catch one he must tell you. But do not take your eyes off him for even a split second, or he will be gone before you can ask.

Dedication

Many thanks go to the various people who have encouraged me in this effort: for the hands-on training from Rose in using PSP; the how-to efforts for website building from Maddog, HTML Clinic, anthrop at Yahoo! Club-PentagonUniversity and Dave at Davesite; the picture input and scanning efforts from JudyBlue and Jim; and the encouragement and support I received especially from Irisheyes, Snow, and Bob & Jean. I really appreciate it, everyone, and the Irish flower below is for you!

This story is dedicated to my grandchildren so they may better know their roots and perhaps profit from our family history -- changing what they can and keeping what they find useful. This effort is about my family history, what I know of it, and my travels through my life. I have lived many places, seen many sights and different people, and am glad to have a place to record our times. Thanks, Geocities!

Note from Mapern

How do I start recalling the events of 63 years of life? Once started, however, the memories are zooming in "faster than a speeding bullet" and such ajumbled affair they are, too. A glimpse of this, a touch of that, it's getting difficult to navigate the hodge podge references to my life and times. Shall I begin with my saddest memory? My happiest times? Boring daily routine? Or shall I begin at the beginning? If so, which? My personal beginning or the start of the Irish family trying to outrun the pains of the Potato Famine? Think I'll opt for the latter. Happy reading and may God take a likin' to ya'. Mapern

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