Beyond the Grail: A Thorn Rose. Surely Not an Irish Lullaby.'

This writing illustrates the experiences of people in life as a result of their thoughts and actions, as well as the thoughts and actions of others towards them. Happenings based on hearsay along with distorted facts are presented for the sole purpose to engage the reader. Historical data is included at times to correlate to the thoughts and actions of people in America and the Emerald isle during the twentieth century. Sayings and writings by people well known and otherwise are denoted to communicate understanding of the background for a person's thoughts and beliefs during any specific area or episode of the story. The trials and tribulations of the human experiences during the period is done to show a thread of commonality in the happenings in two countries, as it effects the lives of people in a similar measure due to economics, greed, prejudice and war. Moreover, the early part of the mental conditioning of a person in life as it relates to their conduct and attitudes in later years. Finally, a major intent of the story besides the tales described therein, is to stimulate the reader to analyze his or her journey in life; recognizing the brief time span of life, and the importance of striving for fulfillment with a purpose of good acts irrespective of the understanding of it all.