I met my husband on St. Paddy’s day.

[Cleita]

A friend of mine invited me to go to a British pub that her husband managed because they were having a St. Patrick’s day party. Having nothing else to do I went with her. The place was starting to fill up and an Irish couple that my friends knew motioned us over to sit at their table. In a little while a dark and very handsome man, smoking a pipe and wearing an Irish fisherman’s sweater approached me.

“Get out of my chair woman. A man can’t even get up for a moment and someone takes his chair,” he spoke with a soft brogue.

I was taken aback and stunned at his rudeness. Then he leaned over and told me again to get out of his chair. So I called him an ass and got up and told him to take his chair. He sat down and as I started to walk away he grabbed me and sat me on his lap and kissed me on the cheek, saying, “Now that’s better love.”

I spent the next hour on his lap getting acquainted until someone found an empty chair for me. That’s how I met my soulmate. He was from Limerick, Ireland, but had become an American citizen. I often wondered what the fates were working on getting us together, as I was born in Chile. We had come together at the right time from nearly opposite ends of the earth.

Well, he died over a year ago, but today has always been a special day for me not because of the Irish shamrock celebration but because my life changed that day almost a half a century ago. With the Irish music playing wherever you go today and the posts about Ireland on DU, I’m feeling just a little blue today, but wanted to share this with my DU friends. We had a happy life together in spite of setbacks now and then. I do have wonderful memories to fall back on.

I learned so much from him about the history of Ireland, the 800 years of oppression from the British and met many of his friends who enlarged my knowledge of this and the politics involved. His circle of friends included not only Irish but English, American, Aussies and Kiwis because and even my husband knew how to separate the Orangemen from the ordinary nice British person. He had spent some time in London as well and had a very open mind about them.

[Karenina]

1. Oh, Cleita!!!

:cry: :hug::loveya::hug: :cry:

[Sanity Claws]

2. Nice story

Had he missed you when tried to grab you, the romance would not have started. Did you ever think of that?
Good thing you were not a fast runner. ;)

[OhioBlue]

3. what a beautiful story of how you met

good thoughts and hugs to you!!!!
:hug: :loveya: :hug:

[babylonsister]

4. What a lovely story, Cleita! He sounded like quite

a romantic and worldly man! Thanks for sharing. :hug:

[Cleita]

5. He was and very sought out by the ladies too. I was surprised that

he preferred me to all of them.

[babylonsister]

6. I read what you write; I'm not surprised at all, and you had him

for near 1/2 a century? Wow, that's love, and you're lucky to have had it, and him! :loveya: :hug:

[Cleita]

8. It was really more like thirty five years.

I exaggerated about the half century to not sound so nit-picky.

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

7. Cleita, what a wonderful way to meet your husband...

Tonight when Mr. Wonderful and myself are sitting in our "local" we'll have a drink for you and your late husband.

Irish men truly can be wonderful creatures, I met mine 28 years ago the day he arrived in Chicago from Ireland...

God bless...

[Cleita]

10. They are the best. Even when they are being bad they are so

charming in the way they go about it. Thanks for the drink.

:toast:

:beer:

[Jeanette in FL]

9. What a beautiful story, Cleita

Thank you for sharing it with us. I will always think of you two meeting on St. Patricks Day in future years. It is so wonderful that you have such wonderful memories to fall back on now that he is no longer in this realm. Thank you, Cleita.

[EC]

11. Lovely...

'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!'
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
:toast:

[Cleita]

28. Slante!

Sorry I missed your post.

:toast:

[blm]

12. Sending warm thoughts your way, Cleita.

I'll bet his Irish eyes are smiling on you right now.

[Cleita]

13. Strangely enough. It feels like he's around. Yet when I

look at his chair, it's empty and reminds me he isn't.

[brook]

14. His warm spirit is...

always with you and watching out for you. :hug: Thinking of you both right now.

He was a 'darling' man and as handsome as the devil! That was evident to me in the one brief meeting.

Slainte! :toast:

[Cleita]

16. Hey brook. Happy St. Paddy's

We have to get together soon.

:hi:

[brook]

21. We will!

My house guests leave a week from today. And I owe you a lunch!

[SammyWinstonJack]

15. Thanks for sharing this.

:hug:

[Dem Agog]

17. Limerick to Chile - that's a long way to go for a date!

But such a beautiful story. I'm sorry he's gone, but I am glad you have the memories. He sounds like he was quite a catch!

[Cleita]

18. We often talked about the odds.

Also, considering that he almost didn't land in Southern California where we met. Also, I had moved out of state too and had come back temporarily because of family matters, so it was like someone was cheating on the cosmic game board of fate.

[malaise]

19. Lovely story n/t

[Marnieworld]

20. Thank you for sharing this with us.

That was such a beautiful story. I could almost hear his voice. Thanks.

[Sacajawea]

22. O, lucky woman!

:hug:

[tinfoilinfor2005]

23. Me too. Twenty six years ago tonight I met my husband at a

St. Patrick's day party. This is the second marriage for both of us. My wedding ring is an emerald surrounded by diamonds. When you get married to an Irishman, be prepared to wear the green!

Sounds like your life was both passionate and interesting. Those Irishman can be a handful, no doubt about it, but when they leave the house it is as though a bumblebee just flew out the window. They fill every inch of a room.

Of all the money that ere I had, I spent it in good company.
And of all the harm that ere I've done, alas was done to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit, to memory now I cannot recall.
So fill me to the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Of all the comrades that ere I had, they're sorry for my going away,
And of all the sweethearts that ere I had , they wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise while you should not,
I will gently rise and I'll softly call, "Goodnight and joy be with you all!"

Oh, if I had money enough to spend and leisure time to sit awhile
There is a fair maid in this town that sorely has my heart beguiled
Her rosey cheeks and ruby lips, she alone has my heart in thrall.
So fill me to the parting glass. Goodnight and joy be with you all.

Joy be with you, Cleita!

[Cleita]

24. Joy and happiness to you too. Treasure every moment that

you have together. They are gone too soon.

[cally]

25. Thanks for sharing your wonderful meeting

I'm sorry you are feeling sad today. Your husband sounds like he was charming.

[Cleita]

26. Funny that's what NSMA always says when we exchange emails.

I, of course, thought he was charming, but even those who met him when he was ill and at the end of his life have said the same thing.

[Octafish]

27. Un Galán.

He knew about you immediately.

It took you a few moments to recognize him.

Thank you for telling us about your most special and true love, Cleita.

[Cleita]

29. I was very fortunate.

Sometimes I didn't know it but I was.

[mandyky]

30. {{HUGS}}

I'm sure he's still watching over you!
What a great love story!

[shance]

31. Cleita, you are our DU lucky charm.

Thank you for sharing such a lovely, sweet story.

I'm sorry your beloved is not with you physically on St. Paddy's, but I know he's with you all the same.


:toast:

[Missy Vixen]

32. Cleita, what a wonderful story!

>That’s how I met my soulmate.<

As long as he's in your heart, he's never really gone.

I'll toast you both later this evening :hug:,
Julie