WHEN THE HEATHER IS KNEE HIGH
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Jimmy was sitting at the kitchen table, drinking tea and staring out the window of their country farm home. He was reflecting on a piece of ancient philosophy he was taught several years ago while living in Hong Kong: "It takes two people to have a relationship. But only one to end it." Delanie, once again, had left in silence with her suitcase during the middle of the night. During their stormy relationship she had done this many times-always in silence. But this time he sensed a feeling of finality. Quinn looked at him from across the table with a sense of frustration and heartache for both Jimmy and Delanie. After what seemed an eternity she spoke, "when ... or is the right question - will the two of you ever make this relationship work?" "WHEN THE HEATHER IS KNEE HIGH," he responded. An expression that he had used many times over his life to describe a situation that seemed impossible, but on rare occasions did happen, resulting a positive solution. Still frustrated, Quinn replied, "everyone in Ireland knows that heather is a scrubby little shrub that never grows much higher than your ankles, why do you insist on using that silly expression?" "Don't say NEVER. Maybe it only happens on a rare occasion - but it does happen. But when it does the heather is beautiful. Filled with gorgeous purple flowers swaying from the gentle breezes coming off the Irish Sea. 'Tis a sight to see. A bit of a miracle. We need to have hope. That's all we've got. So maybe, just maybe..."he shrugged his shoulders as his voice trailed off. With that said Quinn shoved her chair back, and with an emotional plea, cried out as she headed to her art studio in the barn, "it's obvious that the two of you love each other. Why the hell can't you communicate that feeling and talk about whatever the problem is that keeps screwing things up!" But we are getting ahead of ourselves. We need to start where all great Irish stories start-at the beginning. Who better to tell the story than the great story teller himself... Jimmy Francis McGettigan.
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About the Book
THE STORY... An Irish alcoholic father walks out on his wife and daughter. Falls in love with his soulmate. After successfully fulfilling his dream as a writer, recovers from alcoholism, and spends his life trying to build a relationship with his daughter. THE PEOPLE... Jimmy Francis McGettigan-husband and father. The three women in his life, Maureen-his wife. Delanie-his daughter. Quinn-his soulmate. THE PLACE... Galway, Ireland where Jimmy is born. As his alcoholism develops, he becomes restless. We follow him around the world in search of material to write all the stories inside of him. The opium dens of exotic Hong Kong, the slave markets of Singapore, the seedy sections of the port city of Sydney, Australia. On to the exciting city of Rio de Janeiro and then to Paris, followed by Monte Carlo, gambling capitol of the world and finally, the French Riviera.
About the Author
The Author writes on subjects that he has first hand knowledge of and a degree of expertise. Alcoholism definitely fills both of these requirements. He began his recovery from the disease on July 18, 1973.
Travel has also been a part of his life since he was a young boy. He was always reading maps and spinning a globe to distant places in the world. Hoping that one day his dreams would come true. After finding sobriety, raising their two children, and retiring, Jim and his wife, Joan, began their journey.
With his soulmate, Joan, they have sailed the seven seas and traveled to all seven continents. They continue on their travels around the world to gain information for her art and his writings, always believing that - "the best is yet to come!"
Together they enjoy their five grandchildren, spending time in the Pocono Mountains, and their home on the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida.