Travels in Eire #43

The days and hours had passed so quickly. Caitlin moved back to her parents and while it felt comforting to be there, she was very happy this would not be for any length of time. Boxes had been shipped and suitcases were packed several times to stay within the weight limitations for her flight. With all arrangements made, Caitlin was ready to say her good-byes and head out on this new adventure.

Her two best traveling items, her iPod and a good book, were at the ready for the 6 hour flight to Dublin. The best part of this was knowing that when she arrived Darren would be meeting her. It had been a long 3 weeks since they had seen each other. Even though they talked almost every day on the phone with the 5 hour time difference it was sometimes difficult. Darren had been doing his best between work times to make sure everything was ready for Cailin when she arrived and moved into her flat in Derry.

The plane was not too crowded but Cailin did have a young man sitting next to her. He was tall and well built and looked like a California surfer from pictures she had seen in magazines. He had long blond shaggy hair and blue eyes. Once he said hello, it was obvious he was not from California, but from Ireland.
He introduced himself as Keith, with a smile that showed off his dimples. He was carrying a guitar and placed it in the bin overhead next to Cailin's carry-on.

Cailin, not wanting to seem rude, introduced herself, “Hi, Keith, my name is Cailin.”

“For such an Irish name, you must be from America, right?” he asked.

“I'm from New York City. I'm moving to Ireland.” Cailin was hesitant about giving away too much information to the stranger.

“So where ye's goin' to be?” Keith's accent was thick, similar to Darren's, but a little rougher around the edges.

“Oh, I'm going to be living in Derry,” Cailin felt that Ireland was a big enough country and Derry a big enough town that Keith wouldn't be near where she was going.

“Hey, that's me too! Derry's, a great place. Actually I'm from just outside Derry, but it's mostly the same.” Keith seemed thrilled that she would be in Derry.

Cailin tried to change the subject thinking Keith was asking too many questions about her, “So, I see you were carrying a guitar. Do you play a lot?”

“Sure do, I write my music and play, and do a little performing with some other lads. Sometimes, when I'm not traveling, I play some in a bar in Derry called Sandino's. Heard of it?” Keith obviously loved talking about music. He lit up when Cailin asked about the guitar.

“I've only spent about 2 days in Derry and when I was there I went to a benefit concert at the Millennium Forum. It was to raise funds for the hospital. Is Sandino's near there?” Cailin was trying to keep much of the conversation away from her personal life.

“Was that concert last month? I was supposed to play there with some friends but I had to do some work in America. Wished I coulda been there. Those gigs are always great craic. My boy Darren does a great job in organizing them.”

And with that the look on Cailin's face was astonishment.
“Are you talking about Darren Ryan?” she asked Keith.

“You know the man?” Keith asked back. Now he was the one surprised.

“He's my...my....boyfriend, I guess,” Cailin stammered back not knowing for sure how to explain their relationship.

“Boyfriend!!! Yeooowwww! Ole Darren's finally got himself a lassie!” and Keith started laughing.

They spent the next couple of hours chatting about how Cailin met Darren and how Keith had known Darren for a long time with the common connection being music. Cailin wondered why she had not heard of Keith if he was well known in Ireland and was doing work in the United States. He seemed to always be a little vague about what he was doing in the US other than a little surfing when he got the chance.

“So's are you taking the bus to Derry from the airport?” Keith asked as the plane started to circle around and make it's approach to Dublin.

“Actually Darren is picking me up at the airport. Were you going to take the bus?” Cailin felt obligated to offer a ride since Keith knew Darren so well.

“Usually do take the bus, but a ride would be great. And meetin up with Darren would be great craic! Hope he's got a big vehicle. I could have loaned him my Big Red if I knew what was up.”

“Oh, I don't know what he's driving. Guess we'll just have to wait and see,” Cailin now felt bad in case Darren couldn't fit Keith's stuff in the car too.

They buckled up for landing and Cailin's insides started to brew with excitement at finally arriving in Ireland and getting to see Darren again.