Gift: A round of Guinness
I belong to the best book group in the world. Period. I know others will tell you that, but mine really is. We read to eat first. Then we wine between the lines. And then, sometimes we talk about the book. And then sometimes we just get a little wild. In the giving experience that I am sharing today not only did we get to do all of the above but we got to be real live groupies…on a road trip. Oh my goodness all of the makings of a fine time.
Several
years ago the town in which I live began an “all city book read” called Page Turners
with a focus on Minnesota authors. Our book group loves any excuse to read a
great book and find a reason to meet and eat. When the Page Turners announced
that we were going to be reading a book by Erin Hart, we didn’t know much about
her, but we all bought the book “Haunted Ground” and IMMEDIATELY fell in love
with the characters, Nora and Cormac. The book was set in Ireland which gave us
a great reason to eat fantastic Irish food and of course, over the top good
Irish beer. Several of the women in the book group feel especially connected to
Ireland and so the folk lore and Irish poems really resonated with them. But
the real attraction began for me when Erin came to Austin and she sang some of the
songs and read the poetry and some stories…and then she started telling the
stories of her time in Ireland and transported us to a place that was magical.
We grieved when it was over and started a vigil waiting for the next book in
the series.
The
call came yesterday. One of the book group girls secured tickets to the launch
party for Erin Hart’s next book, “Haunted Ground” which is being held today.
Four of us were able to drop everything and head to the cities, several hours
away. We were like little kids, asking for Erin’s autograph, getting our
pictures taken with her, enjoying the food and drink and then…the music
started. Erin’s husband Paddy is a musician and he and the “band” they began
playing music that took us to the far reaches of the countryside outside of
Dublin into our seats in a stone walled pub and they danced, and played and
sang. There are not words to share how incredible it was, so you will just have
to trust me on that. We felt like we were in Ireland…and then Erin began
singing and reading from her book and sharing poems and stories and I had to
keep pinching myself to remind myself that this was really happening.
It
is pretty late at night and I suddenly realize that getting caught up in the
suddenness of finding out about the tickets, rescheduling everything to be here
and then the excitement and the drive…I have not given anything today…yet. But
I know exactly what to do. A round of Guinness was delivered to the band,
anonymously and they played their hearts out in gratitude as a thank you to the
“angel” who bought them a Guinness…in their thank you, they told the person who
bought the round…”you’re one of us!” ... I’m with the band.
❦ Today just have fun with your giving!
❦ Today just have fun with your giving!
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