John Delach

Mary Ann recently bought a birthday card for a dear friend that raised this conundrum: “Suppose the Hokey Pokey is really what it’s all about?”

A Pint of Guinness

Our family gathered for Tom Brennan’s funeral on Tuesday morning, June 20^th. Tom was my son’s father-in-law.

The service was held in the St. Augustine Cathedral in Bridgeport before a packed house; a measure of the man’s life and his popularity in Fairfield, CT.

My reflections on Tom, his family and friends will come later. Today, I want to share an unexpected serendipitous moment that followed the service. Tom’s family invited the attendees to a reception at the Gaelic-American Society Hall in Fairfield following the service. Commonly called, “The Irish Club,” their choice of beverages includes Guinness on tap.

I smiled as I saw the Guinness tap. “My, my, I said to myself, it’s been a long time since my last glass of stout.”

How long? Not since March 5, 2020, the last time Mike Scott and I made our way to Foley’s for lunch. Back then, we only consumed Guinness there because it was always fresh. Shaun Clancy, Foley’s saloon keeper, couldn’t survive the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine and so it goes.

“A pint of Guinness, please.”

“Glady,” the bartender replied, and I looked on in amazement as she reached for a glass that was about ¾ full and proceeded to put a fresh head on it.

I knew at a glance that this long-delayed glass of stout was going to be a treat and that it was.

I sat alone, hoisted one for Tom, texted Shaun and Scott and celebrated life.