Mary Pat Kelly Galway Bay Book

May 7th and we were back at home base--the Polo Cafe in Bridgeport, Chicago. Dave, who has just received a rave review for his restaurant in the Chicago Tribune, has hosted members of six book clubs who have all read the book, for a "Galway Bay" evening. Roe Snyder, who organized the signing in Florida, brought the 12 members of her club all the way from Burr Ridge, a good hour and a half away. The daughters of my cousin Tom, and their clubs came, as did his friend Mary Pat. I am now the "other Mary Pat" in this group! His daughter Brigid's group is co-ed. "We like the history," one of the fellows told me, a comment I frequently get from men in their emails. Dave served shark, the signature food that earned him the top prize in the competitive Taste of Chicago Festival. What an experience to talk to a room full of people who had read the book and talked about the characters as if they were old friends. "I read slow at the end. I didn't want to leave the Kellys," one woman told me. Music to my ears. My Aunt Marge came. I'm so grateful for her support. We celebrated her 90th birthday in February though she prefers not to emphasize her age. She's as busy and vigorous as ever and didn't need a song sheet to sing Galway Bay at the end, a tradition at these events now. Aunt Marge knows every word!