Mary Pat Kelly Galway Bay Book

The heat that held tight to all of LA let go a little as we got out of the car into the shade of the oak trees that make Flintridge Riding Club so beautiful and inviting. Just after 6 and we thought we were first, sticking the rods attached to the Galway Bay poster into the hard dusty ground to direct people to the clubhouse. Red and white tent stalls are being set up for the Children's Horse Shoe--a huge event attracting 200 competitors--the oldest in the US, a happy circus come to town. Quiet now except for one man walking under the trees. Rabbi Cohen! My teacher more than 40 years ago at St Mary of the Woods College. The first rabbi to teach at a Catholic College in the US--maybe in the world, we said as my sister Randy and I introduced him to friends as they arrived. Randy and her husband Ernie hadn't let me help them get the room ready so when I saw the six vases of white and purple lilacs, the long table on the porch with its green tablecloth and waiting tea pots I got the same rush of pleasure the others arrivals did. The room's big fireplace, wooden beams and stucco walls haven't been changed since 1927 when the club was built and felt like we'd stepped into a movie. Randy introduced me to an audience that had lots of friends and family members--her sister and brother-in-law, husband's aunt--a warm and welcoming crowd. Honora was Randy's great-great grandmother too, of course. Her sons Michael and Patrick carry the names of Honora's sons and in the audience were mothers who'd known the boys since they had been in preschool with their own children. A great group with which to talk about tradition and connection and ancestors! And then we drank real Irish tea and ate the best cookies while the book seller from the Flintridge Book Shop proved the show can go on no matter what.

The Saint Bede Parish Book Club invited me to meet with them in the John XXIII room in their lovely parish hall the next morning. The leader, Brenda, is a friend of Randy's. This is my first discussion with a group who have all read Galway Bay. It's a joy to hear others talk about the characters as if they were real people. The dream I had as I sat writing on those long narrow lined yellow pads with the fine point Paper mate pen (both getting harder and harder to find) is coming true!!!

Now I'm heading to the LA Festival of Books and The Book Soup, that very special independent book store that suffered its own tragedy recently when founder died. Tens of thousands of people will be there. Well I have the posters and cards and book plates Randy had printed at her neighborhood shop. I'm ready. Will I be calling out "Step right up for a great read?" Maybe. So many book lovers! What fun!