The Ireland Fund

The Ireland Fund, established in 1997, consisted of dollar bills and random change crammed in a dark green wine jug.  My old roommate and I religiously contributed a dollar a day for I don't know how long.  We'd ask each other constantly, "Did you put your dollar in today?" 

It sat prominently on top of the stereo in our Ludlow Street apartment with the red walls (Vintage Claret, I still remember the paint swatch).  We were going to Ireland, one way or another, and a dollar a day was about all we could manage.  On occasion, we were lucky enough to have a generous visitor throw in a buck or two for the cause.  You wouldn't believe how much that thing held.  We would wad up the bills, fold them, and roll them...and somehow we kept squeezing them in when it seemed the bottle could hold not a penny more. 

At long last it was time to cash in.  There was to be no delicate shaking of the jug to remove its contents.  We took a hammer to it instead.  Probably not the wisest decision considering the shattered glass and all, but very satisfying nonetheless.  I don't remember what the total haul was - not enough to fund an entire trip, for sure, but we had a pile of money and we were on our way.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!