Keeping in touch with friends from San Francisco

I was at the Connacht football semi-final between Sligo and Galway a couple of weeks ago. As I stood inside the gate distributing Into the West, a friend from San Francisco said hello. It really is funny, where you bump into old friends and acquaintances.

In the last week I got calls from four friends from the US. The first, a Kerryman called just to say hello and to tell me how impersonal emails are and how personal the phone is. He is right. Then he got his wife to email me after the previous blog to call my turnips "mangles" or as he put it "cow fodder." Hmmmm...

Then Sean, my good friend from Louisburgh, who has lived in San Francisco for approx. 50 years called up to tell me the weather had broken in Ireland and that the introduction of property tax in Ireland will be the straw that will send me back to the US with my tail between my legs.

Brian, who has lived in San Francisco for many years, is from London. He's great craic and a great chin-wagger (talker). I was very sorry to have to cut my chat with him short as Sarah (1 year old) was demanding my attention. He seems to be in good fettle and enjoyed the World Cup.

Cormac called and informed me that there was a seisiun of music in Ballinrobe last Sunday. I went. Met Kenny, Cormac, Dave, Liam, Chris and John. What a great time we had. Music, Song, Sean Nos dancing and good honest chat.

Anyways, it is great to have such good friends. Such good friends are the kind that you can talk to as if you never lost touch, after long periods of no communication. After all, do we really need to be talking to each other to know that we love each others' company, that we miss each other (from time to time) and that when we do meet we will savour the moment(s).

Well friends, even if you criticize my turnips (or mangles in Kerry), I haven't forgot you. And I know that we will enjoy reunions.