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A Stray Memory



I'm thinking today, for no good reason, of an encounter I had at a Dublin airport many years ago. This was on a year when Bloomsday (June 16) fell on a weekend -- I believe on a Sunday.

I had freed my US bound schedule for a few days and flew to Dublin, arriving on a Friday.

I was not in a relationship at the time, so I arrived alone. Further, I was not dressed in attire that would suggest I was there for any business purpose. So ... I was a youngish man, traveling alone, dressed casually, and this might have been enough to put me on somebody's radar as a possible trouble maker who needed to be questioned.

The usually casual question, "business or pleasure, sir" turned into something more searching. I found myself explaining not only that I was there for Bloomsday but that, yes I was sort of familiar with Ulysses.  I was asked to name some major characters. I started up and listed four before I was interrupted by an obviously satisfied security guard.

Perhaps the best list I have ever managed to compile at a moment's notice. "Leopold Bloom, Molly Bloom, Stephen Daedelus, Stately tall Buck Mulligan...."

"Okay, that's enough sir. Enjoy your Bloomsday."

Not a Christmasy story, but ...hey. I'll see you back here on December 27th, when the lucky among you will be getting three french hens from your true loves.

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