I'm a Sap

For about the first 2 1/2 hours of my flight today, I was like waterworks. A tear would escape my eye every so often pretty much from the beginning of the movie. What was showing? PS I Love You. I hadn't seen it before and I didn't know the story going into it. I'll get more into the story of the movie in a little bit, but first another reason it set me off. If you haven't seen the movie, and don't want it spoiled, stop reading now.

The character Gerard Butler plays is named Gerry Kennedy. Gerry dies very early in the movie of a brain tumor. This reminded me of Gerry Coffey, a former bartender at the Grasshopper who died much too young of a sudden brain tumor. Gerry Coffey passed away about 10 years ago now. Sadly, I don't remember the day, let alone the year anymore. Back in the good old days, Gerry and Murph (Mike Murphy) could be found tending bar at the hopper. Shelia would work during the day and on Sunday nights, and Timmy would fill in here and there. No one had a bad word to say about Gerry. When he did pass away, a fund raiser was held at the grasshopper to help pay part of the medical bills and to help the family out. His widow ended up moving back to Ireland to be with family. I truly miss Gerry. And Murph (Murph moved back to Ireland about a year later, although I did see him briefly at Timmy's wedding- on a side note, what does it say when you are invited to your bartender's wedding?)

In addition to missing the people, I miss that time. I had friends then. It's not that I don't have friends now, but things have changed. We've all gotten older. Things are more complicated. People are married. People have kids. We can't stay out and party all the time. I guess you could say I never really took full advantage of that time, and I want it back.

Back to the movie- there are many times throughout the movie where I would well up. What Gerry (the character) was able to bring to Holly beyond the grave was amazing. That he thought to do that was brilliant. That she followed the letters was great and a tribute to their love. What disturbs me is that I don't have anyone in my life who would care enough about me to write the letters if they were in a similar situation, nor do I have someone to write the letters to if something were to happen to me.

I have some good friends, but no true loves right now, and I don't know that I ever did. To go back to the grasshopper, I remember when I found out that Timmy was getting married. I was living with C at the time, and I asked him how did he know that she (Lea, his wife) was the one. He answered very succinctly, in perhaps the best bartender wisdom I've ever heard "If you have to ask, she's not the one." I cared about C very deeply then, but I realized right then that it probably wasn't going to happen (never mind any of the other issues).

When I do pass on, I hope to have a service similar to Gerry Kennedy's in the movie. It was held at a bar, and everyone, including the minister, did a shot individually as a toast to his life. I've always admired the Irish I've met. They ALWAYS know how to have a good time. They know to celebrate while mourning. Go the Grasshopper on a Sunday night. ANY Sunday night and the Bergen and Hudson Country Irish are there well represented, dressed up having a good time in a traditional Seisun.

Needless to say, the movie was a tearjerker, and reminded me of a happier, younger time in my life.