The Sunshine Empire

I am, when it comes to blood, half Irish and proud as all get out about it. But in the dying breath of St. Patrick’s day I have to give love to the man that introduced me to my heritage, my true heritage as an Irishman. This man was my Great uncle John. John was a man that had lived his life in northern Virginia, and in his old age moved down to The Sunshine Empire. He was a man that had amassed a fortune, without any heir to follow him. He came to the Empire after his wife of many years had passed, but he came to his family and he treated family as they should as any Irishman would have. When he came to Florida he told a poor Florida boy to come with him and his family to the mother country and to fly to Ireland. We all flew to Ireland and we were able to see great things.

When I arrived to Ireland I was awoken by John punching me in the arm to awake me in a way that you have no idea that an 86 year old man can do. But the times I had first visiting the suburbs of Dublin, then crossing the country to Shannon was something that I will never forget. We traveled to Shannon and then to County Kerry. County Kerry is not where my blood comes from, but it is where my family comes from. Mary-Ellen and her family took my family in and John-Joe, Chris, the twins, and Bridget all out on the Dingle Peninsula made sure that my family was their family. All of these wonderful people were brought into my family by Uncle John.

To this day Uncle John’s legacy lives on beyond the wonderful family that my mother and I talk to every holiday every year across the pond from Florida to An Daingean. Even our friends in Oregon know the wonder that was Tullamore Dew and Uncle John. Our Friends at Jolemite Blog know the wonders of Uncle John.

St. Patrick’s day means much to many people, but it always brings me back to uncle John, and I’ll always cherish him for him, but also for the legacy of friendship and Irish wonder that he bestowed upon me. God bless you Uncle John, up there in the fishing village in the sky.

The Editor-in-Chief of TSE and the Editor-in-Chief of Jolemite Blog with the legendary Uncle John himself in between in 1999.

The Late Uncle John’s favorite whiskey was Paddy. Check out Paddy’s Official Website. I know he would want you to.