Guess Who Came to Dinner!

 

There had been subtle hints throughout the day, but neither Bill nor I tuned in on them.

"How long does it take to get to Malin Head?  What time are we going to eat dinner?"  Willie had asked. 

 It also seemed weird that Willie and Debbie barely gave us time to freshen up for dinner before knocking at the door, seemingly hurrying us up. 

So, we scooted out of our room here at the Seaview Tavern B and B and headed down to the restaurant for dinner, saying hello to staff we had met on our last visit here. 

The servers put the four of us at a table for six.  On a busy Friday night, that seemed a bit odd, but again, we rolled with the punches.

We had just ordered our drinks and some starters for the meal when I looked toward the entrance into our section and gasped with shock.

There she came, our Swiss Miss aka Laura with a great big smile on her face.  None of us had seen Laura for three or four years. 

And, there she was, coming to join us for dinner in remote Malin Head, Ireland, the Republic's northernmost point. 

The scene got a little noisy and a whole lot tearful as one of the surprises of a lifetime unfolded at our table for six.

Yes, we would need that table because now we were five and jubilant and shocked and still gasping.

A nice lady at a nearby table came over and offered to take our photo.

Laura, who has just finished her Bachelor's Degree at a Swiss University, had flown to Dublin, done some sightseeing and then boarded a bus for the trip to Malin Head.  

She had also found a hostel just down the road from our B and B.

Laura also came bearing gifts:  two sets of personal photos taken of the grandpups, Todd and Brooke and of her Icelandic pony. In all cases, these beloveds are sweet memories to all involved.

On the back of each photo, Laura has carefully penned recipes she had shared with us during her stay as an exchange student seven or eight years ago.  She also included a couple of her favorites.

And, of course, she brought a little Swiss chocolate.

Laura aka Swiss Miss established a lifelong bond with the Loves and the extended family of humans, dogs and horses. 

She has come back to Sandpoint two or three times, and we have so missed her through the Pandemic.

But last night, we all reunited in a happy place, and we'll spend the next three days catching up and seeing this happy place in its entirety.

Such a gift.  Such a supreme surprise carried off without a hitch. 

Thank you, Laura.  We are so happy to see you and spend some time with you once again. 

Leading up to the big surprise, we spent most of the day on the road from Clifden to Malin Head. 

We enjoyed our last breakfast with Sue and John at Sharamore House, talked of coming back soon and then headed into a rainy Clifden to take care of a few errands.  

The day before I had done my usual stop at the local Des Moran Butcher Shop where Lawrence has taken over after Des retired.  As always, both Lawrence and Thomas happily chatted with me while cutting up meat for the display case

Bill took a Filson hat to his Clifden friend John Stanley who sells flies for fishing along with a lot of other fine clothes. 

We drove through the rain and walked through the rain at Kylemore Abbey and at Drumcliffe, where William Butler Yeats is buried.

We also visited a little art store where one of the artist Sheba was minding the store.  

When the subject of actress Maureen O' Hara came up, I told my story of Fr. O'Donovan who exhanged birthday cards with the famous actress during her later years. 

And, then Sheba told us of a time when she was a little girl in Dublin going to dinner at her friend Brownwyn's house.  Turns out that lady sitting next to Sheba at the table was Maureen O'Hara, Brownwyn's mother.  

Sheba said she was at an age where the actress's presence met nothing to her because she would rather have been eating at home. 

Fun day of driving and stopping and coming back to reunite with Caitriona and her close-knit, efficient staff and then to have a very unexpected but wonderful reunion with Laura. 

Happy to be here and excited to do some sight seeing today with Laura.

Meanwhile, at home in North Idaho, Annie has arrived and will be tending the farm and the beloveds, giving Elisabeth a nice break for the holiday weekend. 

Happy Saturday.