Do you recall when I blogged about a charming older man we (Doug, Lauren, and yours truly) had the privilege to meet - the one resembling Yoda in all the greatest of ways? Mr. Kilroy is his name and he is uncle to a Mr. Joe Reid, owner of the Black Oak Inn in Newport, Mayo, Ireland.
Joe was kind enough to try to help me reconnect with Lavelles and introduced me to his uncle, "Padder" as he's affectionately known. I was so taken with him, mesmerized by his appearance and manner of speaking that I neglected to write down anything he said. He could have read me the phone book and I'd have been spellbound. I've kicked myself a thousand times for not taking his picture, but I was afraid to appear rude. (Can believe it? It does happen from time to time.)
Padder suffered a heart attack when he was 92 (he's now 95) and rode to the doctor's office on his bike!! "It was all downhill," Joe had explained. Well, then, it wasn't such an amazing feat, now was it?! Images of the man have floated in and out of my imagination since that awe-inspiring meeting. I suppose I fancy him a surrogate Grandfather, never having met my real ones. Nothing lasts forever and I feel a compelling need to see him again. "I want to see you when I come back to Ireland," I told him last year when we parted. "Will ye bring a spade or a shovel?" he asked. In spite of the devilish twinkle in his eye, the melancholy sentiment stuck with me. Every time I think of Padder, I remember that comment.
So, there you have it. I can't go all the way to the Motherland without seeing the cute old man who captured my heart. Who knows if I'll have the opportunity again and we all know there are no do-overs in life. I won't miss the chance to sit and listen to his buttery brogue again. No way.
I extended my trip by a few days and rather than walk the last day from Kenmare to Killarney, which is by and far a reversal of the first day's walking, I'm going to cancel the last day's hike in favor of getting a cab to Killarney. From there, I'll rent a car and drive 172 miles to Wesport...plus some because I'm sure to get lost without Lauren as my able-minded navigator. I've already spoken to Joe and he's promised to arrange a longer, more planned reunion with Padder...most likely over a few pints. When I've filled my heart again with his adorableness, I'll dash over to Wesport to visit again with Christopher Anthony Lavelle, owner of Lavell's Bar. He's quiet in a way that reminds me of my Dad.
Finally, I'll drive 160 miles to Dublin airport to return the car. I'll drive through the middle parts of Ireland I've never seen and stop off to check out every castle, abbey, and graveyard along the way. MEEP will be a whirlwind of a trip, but I plan to cram as much as possible into each and every day. Like Padder, I'm not getting any younger and I don't want any regrets.
An beoir, le do thoil! Go raibh maith agat! (A beer, please! Thank you!)
No comments:
Post a Comment