"Let me tell you something. In here, hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can get you killed."

-- Red, speaking to Andy in "Shawshank Redemption."

Despite those words to Red in my favorite movie of all time, I have decided to allow myself to get my hopes up ... again.

For decades I have dreamed of seeing Ireland. I don't know why that particular country, but it is the place I dream of seeing.

I've come close to getting there, twice. But in both cases everything went down in flames, and my heart was broken.

Here's to hoping the third time is a the charm. I've been invited to go on a peace-building mission for two weeks this fall. A family has volunteered to house me, and someone is taking care of the group's (there are four of us) meals and transportation while we are "in country."

I have to find a way to get there. And air travel is not cheap. I have to come up with about a month's pay (or more) for airfare.

The Kansan has offered a little bit of money to help me if I blog and upload spotted galleries when I am there. I have, of course, agreed to that. But I still have a long, long, long way to go.

I am daring to dream. I'm letting myself hope. And I am doing all I can to keep a positive attitude. I just know that somehow this will happen — that money will magically appear on my doorstep and I will be able to go on this mission.

C