I am a bit past “mid-life” at this point, so it is a slightly different crisis this time.

The first mid-life crisis trip was Ireland in 2006 for my 40th birthday. Shannon found Ballyhannon Castle, Margaret and Liam Moore made it magical for us, and Bruce gave one of his finest toasts and sang a song on the lawn in front of the Coach House. Pepper the 700-pound Shetland Pony became our friend.; Blarney stones were smooched.

In 2016 Shannon found Palazzo Mannochi in Petritoli, Italy. to celebrate my 50th. One hundred of you wonderful family and friends made the journey with us and experienced the wonder of a gorgeous hill town in the Le Marche region. Every day was perfect, every night even better. The polenta board at Osteria de le Cornacchie still lives on in my dreams. The 2006 Petritoli soccer team jersey lives in my office (thanks to Dave Thompson’s shrewd deal-making).

For my 60th, we are returning to the ancestral homeland of Ireland. It turns out we O’Neills are descended from David Roche, the 9th Viscount of Fermoy, who resided at Blackwater Castle. And so, 12 generations later, we will be popping in for a visit with any friends that can make it. The Castle has its own bar. That is really all we need to know for now.