tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603604556073245922.post5054278504232307640..comments2023-09-28T18:10:21.315-04:00Comments on Little Chapel on the River: Final Guinan's BeerGwendolyn Boundshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07160780725657180397noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1603604556073245922.post-85978827942891588912008-02-02T02:43:00.000-05:002008-02-02T02:43:00.000-05:00I was there for the finale from about 10:00 PM to ...I was there for the finale from about 10:00 PM to 2:00 AM -- and there was much singing from Jim, Scott, & Ray -- "Waltzing Matilda"; "The Dying Rebel"; "Galway Bay"; "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen"; "The Wild Colonial Boy" (Jim, at 82, was particularly animated during The WCB -- it was as though he momentarily slipped 40 years off his life) and, of course, "Danny Boy". There was a bagpipe, harp, and flute all played and the music provide some somber joy.<BR/><BR/>There was much talk -- about incidents such as the 'Hello Dolly" filming and Jim's conversation with Gene Kelly (and, years later, Gene's daughter); Jim's prowess at darts; and generally days gone by.<BR/><BR/>There was, of course, sadness at the closing -- yet I was struck with the feeling that we,the friends and customers, only feel this transitory sadness while Jim (and family) must feel real pain. We are sad for him .. and ourselves .. but he is having a part of himself ripped from his being .. and now he faces real change and, unfortunately, the unmentionable old age.<BR/><BR/>We can offer him only our thoughts, prayers, and love. As I told him when I was leaving (and he finished the stanza), "May the road rise up to meet you and may the wind be at your back"<BR/><BR/>John F. McMullen 2/1/08Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com