My Life as an Irish American Girl

On Friday, March 6th, Mom dropped Dad and me off at the airport. Once we got past T.S.A, in Terminal Seven, I found a restaurant called Burger Joint. We both had French fries, and it was delicious. Our flight took off at five in the evening. On the plane, I watched the Ryan Reynolds movie IF. To be honest, it was better than I thought it was going to be. 

On Saturday, March 7th, Dad and I landed in Dublin, Ireland, at four in the morning. We were thirty minutes early. We sat at the airport until a quarter to six, then walked to the bus stop and caught the 100X Express to Dundalk. 

I got off at the Louth Hospital because I was staying with my cousins, Martin, Carol, Chloe, and Kyle. Martin met me at the bus stop, and we walked across the street to his house. After I had a piece of toast and chatted with everyone, I went upstairs into my bedroom and took a two-hour nap. 

When I woke up, I waited for the bus in front of the hospital, and rode it into town with my dad, uncle David, and Eimear. We got off at the bus depot and took the next one to Drogheda. I was visiting a relative who was staying in the hospital. They have a lovely sitting room where the patient can sit with their family and enjoy a nice view through the big window. 

Afterwards, we took the bus back to Dundalk and had dinner at the Europa, which is one of my favorite restaurants. I got chicken curry and chips. Portion sizes are large in Ireland. Curry is my favorite food to eat in Ireland. 

After dinner, Dad and I took an evening walk. We walked to the Marshes Shopping Center. I window shopped in Penneys and Dunnes Stores. Then we walked to Tesco's and had a look at the Chocolate Easter Eggs. One of the big reasons I love coming in March or April. 

After browsing, we walked to a local deli and got ice cream. I had a vanilla Dixie cup, and Dad had a Magnum bar. Then he dropped me off at my cousin's house, and he went back to his sister's. 

On Sunday, March 8th, Dad and I went to the Dundalk Baptist Church. Afterward, we walked back into town and met Eimear at the bus depot, where we caught the bus going to Drogheda. When we got back to Dundalk, we had dinner at the Europa. This time, I got chicken tenders and chips with a side of curry sauce. Then we took our evening walk up to Tesco's. I bought decaf tea. But sadly, my dad took it home with him. 

When I got back to my cousin's house, I tried Chop Sticks. My first time trying beef curry, which was surprisingly lovely. I particularly like it when beef isn't too chewy or cut too thick. 

Later that evening, after my shower, I FaceTimed my mom. She was teasing me with her leftover steak. But she's always a happy lady. I stayed up a little bit later and watched some funnies on Instagram, then I fell asleep. 

On Monday, March 9th, I hopped on the bus and rode it to the town. David, Eimear, Dad, and I took the bus to the hospital. When we got back to town, Dad and I had the Roma for lunch. The Roma is one of my other favorite restaurants. I had chicken curry and chips. It was the best curry I've had in a while. 

After lunch, we took a walk up to Tesco's, and I got myself hairspray and special shampoo for itchy scalps. We attempted to get smooche, which is like a blizzard ice cream in America, but we had no luck. So we walked to the local shop and got an ice cream bar. 

I walked back to my cousin's house and chatted with my cousin Chloe. For dinner, Chloe, Kyle, and I had Angelo's, a local chip shop in town. I had chicken tenders and chips with a side of curry. After dinner, I had a shower, came back downstairs, and watched The Great British Bake Off. Then my cousin Carol came home, and we had a cup of tea in the kitchen. 

On Tuesday, March 10th, I worked remotely from eleven in the morning til three in the afternoon. After work, I walked to the Marshes with my dad. I window-shopped at Penneys and bought ramen noodles and a new spring coat at the Dunnes Stores. 

After we finished shopping, we went to Creme e Gusto, an Italian restaurant and coffee shop. The chicken tenders were amazing. Dad and I went into Deals, and I bought mini Cadbury eggs and noodles. Since it was going to rain and we didn't want to get soaked, we took the bus home. I got off at the Louth Hospital, and Dad continued back to the Bay Estate. 

When I got home, Martin made me a cup of tea, and I tried the ramen noodles. They weren't my favorite. Too salty for my liking. 

On Wednesday, March 11th,  I took the early bus up to town and went to the Copper Kettle for breakfast. I had toast. Since the restaurant was going to close soon, I wanted to make one last memory. When my granny was alive, she'd always take me there when I was little, and we'd chat with her friends. 

Later that afternoon, we went to the Europa for lunch. Then dad and I walked around the town and back home. 

On Friday, March 13th, I was working in the morning, then I met my dad in town. We went to the Europa for a late lunch, then walked around the town. On our walk, we ran into cousin Padraig. He's the sweetest lad. His friend gave me a balaglava in the colors of the Irish flag. I look forward to wearing that when I'm back in New York during the cold winters. 

Then we walked to the Marshes, and I treated my dad to an ice cream. Afterward, we walked up to the shop near Oriel Park and got some snacks for the game. Of course, I can't turn down buttons. They're too delicious. 

It was a cold day. I had on two pairs of pants, my sweater, my jacket, then my purple sweater over that, along with my hat, scarf, and gloves. I didn't want to risk being sick. Meanwhile, my dad forgot to dress warmly and was freezing.

When we got to Oriel Park, we window-shopped in the merchandise area. Then we sat in the stands, where the big roof and side windows protected us from the cold breeze. That was an awesome game. Dundalk won five-nil against Waterford. The first win of the season. 

Saturday, March 14th, to Monday, March 16th, was quiet. Didn't do too much. Had a chill day. 

On Tuesday, March 17th, I met my cousin Padraig for breakfast. I had French toast, and he had an Irish breakfast. I got to hang out with his dog, Blondie. 

After breakfast, I stood on Clanbrassil Street with a bunch of other people and got to watch my first official Saint Patrick's Day parade. It was magical. My favorite part was the bagpipes. 

In case you are wondering what real Irish people do on Saint Patrick's Day, let me tell you. Everyone wears green and waves the Irish flag, then they go about their day. Some people don't attend the parade; instead, they just treat it as a normal day. The biggest parade is in Dublin. Fun Fact: A lot of tourists fly to Dublin just to see the parade. 500,000 people attend the parade. 

Afterward, my dad and I walked to the Marshes and waited for the crowds to disappear. Then we went to the Roma for lunch. I put my New Yorker on and ran to an empty table. Their curry is the best. I ate too many chips, but I couldn't help it because they were way too yummy. 

When I got back home, Padraig and Denise came over. That was the first time I've seen Denise since I was a teenager. We had a cup of tea and warm Italian bread. It was lovely to socialize with everyone. 

On Friday, March 20th, after I finished work, Carol, Martin, Kyle, and I drove up to Carlingford. We got ice cream and took a walk by the sea. It was a clear, sunny, beautiful day. You could see the mountains. Martin gave me some history while we walked. 

The weekend was full of getting last-minute stuff to bring back home. But on Saturday, March 21st, I had my cousin Martin's delicious steak with mashed potatoes and gravy. On our last day in Ireland, for my last meal, I had chicken keiv with mashed potatoes and gravy. After dinner, Carol and I went to Starbucks. I brought my own tea bag, and she had her coffee. 

One of the biggest highlights of my trip was having a cup of tea with my cousin Carol. We both love our tea milky. It was a long flight, but the sunset over Montreal, Canada, made it feel awesome. 

Three days after I got back from Ireland, on Thursday, March 26th, I got prepared for major surgery to have my gallbladder removed. When I got to the hospital in Manhattan, the nurse took my temperature and blood pressure. Thankfully, all was good. Then the nurse came back, and she had me take ibuprofen and an anxiety pill. She also gave me an injection in my arm. Afterward, she searched long and hard for a vein in my hand and inserted the IV. What a process you have to go through before you get surgery. 

The nurse surgeon came to get me, and we walked to the operating room. The view of the East River was pretty. It made the walk feel shorter. When we got to the operating room, I sat by the window and answered the questions. Then I went into the tiny bright room and laid on the bed. 

When I woke up in the recovery room, I saw butterflies painted on the ceiling, and I remember asking the nurse if my gallstone was out and if they had to open me up or not. Thankfully, it was laparoscopic, which was good because it meant I could go home that day. The pain was intense. It felt like someone twisted me like a pretzel. They inserted pain meds into my IV, but that didn't work. Then they gave me stronger meds, which helped. 

They made me get up and walk. Apparently, you're not allowed to leave until you pee. Thankfully, I was able to do that. I was put in a wheelchair, and Mom wheeled me out. No lifting or baths allowed for four to six weeks. A full recovery takes four to six weeks. 

This past year has been a journey. Sit back and relax as you read my story. 

In March, my brother adopted a dog named Gardy. Gardy is an American Staffordshire Terrier-Pit Bull mix. She's the cutest dog.  She loves to cuddle and give you kisses. Gardy was named after Brett Gardner from the Yankees.

In April, a few hours before my flight to Ireland, I was playing a game with Lily (my brother's girlfriend) when I suddenly felt my throat tighten and started to sweat and feel dizzy. I figured I was just thirsty, so I took a drink of water. But it wasn't going down. I excused myself from the table and went to the bathroom. That's when I started throwing up. Of course, I was crying because I was scared. Afterwards, I ended up being okay. But I was afraid to eat. I did grab food at the airport, which went down just fine.  

You can read about my trip to Ireland here: Five Years Later

When I came back from Ireland, the first day back to work was great. But in May, I was at work, color-coordinating clothes. Suddenly, I felt dizzy. I didn't know what was going on. I felt like I was going to pass out. I was extremely spacey and cried for help. My boss rubbed my back as I threw up again. I felt fine. I was excited to go to the Wax Museum with Lily. But unfortunately, I was back in the bathroom. We ended up going home. After that, I took a few weeks off work due to my constant nausea and vomiting. 

In June, I saw a gastroenterologist. The doctor wanted to do an ultrasound and bloodwork to see if anything comes back. He also put me on acid reflux medication to help with the nausea. A few weeks later, Mom and I went back to the doctor for a follow-up. They did find a gallstone, but it wasn't causing the problem, and the blood work came back normal. We had to schedule an endoscopy. I was scared because I had never had one before. 

In July, I was lying on a bed trying to think of positive thoughts while I was getting hooked up to an IV. When I got to the operating room, the anesthesiologist talked me through the procedure. Of course, the silly person that I am asked, "Has anyone ever died doing this?" He reassured me that I would be okay. They put a thing in your mouth to keep it open, then they put you to sleep. Once you're asleep, they insert a tube down your throat and collect samples to help figure out the diagnosis. 

A couple of days later, we discovered that I have esophagitis. What is Esophagitis? It is when the esophagus becomes inflamed while eating certain foods, such as fried or spicy foods. Also, you can't drink caffeine. Sadly, I had to go off caffeinated tea and soda. I can only drink decaf tea and caffeine-free soda. I've grown to love decaf tea. 

Due to my diagnosis, after talking to my parents and my job coach, we all agreed it was best to end it at the retail job, due to not being able to stand up for long periods, and my on-and-off nausea. It was a great experience working in retail. 

Toward the end of July, my brother Brendan got engaged to his beautiful girlfriend, Lily. I was so happy. 

Fast forward a few months, in October, my dad and I drove up to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Katie, who is one of my best friends, was getting married. She asked me to be one of the bridesmaids. Of course, I couldn't say no. 

Friday, October 31st, after rehearsing, we went to her sister's house for dinner. Mrs. Minard made delicious chicken and beef tacos in the crockpot. Everyone made me feel extremely loved and welcomed. I felt like I was part of the family. 

A lot of people asked me how I knew Katie. Let me give you a quick history on that. Katie and I met on a blogging site that no longer exists called Homeschool Blogger. Then we video chatted on Skype, which also doesn't exist. We ended up FaceTiming once every couple of months. In 2022, we met in person at Applebee's in Fort Wayne. 

Early Saturday morning, Dad dropped me off at the church, and I went into the suite with the other bridesmaids. Hannah, Katie's sister-in-law, did my makeup. I watched all the beautiful ladies get their hair done. Of course, the bride was the most attractive person in the room. It was freezing outside, but we managed to take some good photos. It was only then that I regretted choosing a short dress. Both the wedding ceremony and reception were amazing. When I walked down that aisle, I think I almost cried. That's how happy I was. 

This Thanksgiving, Ryan, my sister-in-law Victoria, my niece Willow, and my nephew Malachi came for the weekend. It was a lot of fun. I helped Mom make mashed potatoes. We had turkey, Ham, Mashed potatoes, stuffing, and croissants. Of course, we can't forget my mom's famous gravy. It's the best gravy you'll ever have. Brendan and Lily came over. Brendan made an apple pie, and we had Häagen-Dazs ice cream. 

This year, we celebrated Christmas on December 20th. The Mullens were together this year for the first time in a long time. We did a mixture of catering and cooking. Mom made ham, salad, roast beef, and pigs in a blanket. We catered penne with vodka sauce and potato croquets. Everything was good, but the pasta was my favorite.

After dinner, we read a scripture from Luke about Jesus's birth. Then we did the White Elephant game. Yes, I'm a bad aunt and stole from my nephew. But don't worry, he still loves me. 🤣 He ended up getting a cheese-shaped stress ball. Which was very similar to the purple stress that I stole. Then we did the gift exchange. I was the elf. Of course, the kids got a lot of gifts, and they loved everything. My brother Ryan got me a Los Angeles Dodgers Trivia book. Lily surprised me with a gift. She got me a Stitch bobblehead, a Stitch stress ball, and Hershey kisses. 

Since my dad's birthday was the following day, we celebrated his birthday on the twentieth. For his birthday, I got him a Carvel ice cream cake. It was his sixty-fifth birthday. We sang Happy Birthday, then we had Irish tea and dessert. Lily and I made gingerbread and sugar cookies. 

On Christmas Day, it was just my parents and me. Before we opened gifts, I made French Toast. Then we went into the living room and opened gifts. I got lovely gifts. For dinner, we kept our tradition and went out to China New Star. China New Star is our famous Chinese restaurant in Brooklyn. The food was excellent. My favorite things to order are chicken fried rice, wonton soup, and curry. After dinner, we went to Brendan's apartment to give him some food and, of course, to see Miss Gardy. Brendan got me an Agatha Christy video game. Safe to say he loved the leftovers. 

Happy New Year! I pray 2026 is full of positivity and lots of new memories. 

Photo 1: The bridesmaids and bride (I'm on the left) 

Photo 2: The family photo on Thanksgiving. (Malachi, Victoria, my mom, Gardy, Brendan, Lily, my dad, me, Ryan, and Willow. 

Photo 3: The cookies Lily and I made. 

Photo 4: Carvel Ice Cream Cake 

Photo 5: My parents and I on New Year's Eve