-------- Original Message --------
Subject: News from Alabama
Date: Fri, 7 Jan 2005 16:17:57 EST
From: FlyingFrog@aol.com
To: info@shannonbridge.net


Hello Dermot,
In your archives from last April, you noted that Harry Gunning had "an
invitation to visit" us in America. Well, that's just what happened. We just had a
wonderful visit from Harry and Anne and wanted to share the news with your
readers (story below). I also have a couple of photos if you have a place for
them? Let me know if I can send them to you.
Regards,
Fran Morley
Fairhope, Alabama

My husband Tom and I visited your fine village last April. Tom's a violinist,
and he had hoped to join in on a session at Killeen's. When no other
musicians showed up that night, Mick put in a call to Harry Gunning. What happened
then, led to a happy surprise that has just had its payoff.
Tom and Harry hit it off musically and otherwise. After several hours of
playing tunes together, Tom told Harry to come visit us in our little city of
Fairhope, Alabama, the next time he came to America. We exchanged addresses and
phone numbers, but figured, in reality, that the possibility of getting together
again was remote.
This fall, however, Harry and his wife Anne made plans to fly to Orlando for
Christmas, and, since it is only an hour away from our home by air, he called
to let us know that they might come our way.
To make a long story short, Harry and Anne had a miserable few days in
Orlando, where it was too cold, rainy, and crowded. But I'm happy to say that things
took a turn for the better when they arrived here on the Alabama Gulf Coast.
We met as cautious strangers. After all, we had only spent a couple of hours
with Harry that night at Killeen's, and Anne and I only talked briefly on the
phone a week or so before their visit. Five days later, however, we parted as
best of friends.
During their stay, the four of us enjoyed walks on sandy beaches on the Gulf
of Mexico and Mobile Bay, a picnic (days were sunny, with highs around 20
Celsius), fireworks in downtown Fairhope on New Year's Eve, dinners out, a
gathering with friends (who of course brought instruments to play along with Harry
and Tom), shopping, and sightseeing. We 'made' Harry and Anne experience some
Southern delicacies, such as seafood gumbo, black-eye peas, turnip greens, and
sweet potatoes (all received favorable ratings!) Tom and Harry spent a day in
the studio recording a few tunes, and since Anne loves Bluegrass music, we went
out one night to hear a group play. Harry couldn't resist sitting in for a
few tunes, and he was a big hit with the regulars!
Now, we've made promises to see each other again, sometime, someplace. I just
wanted to write and let everyone know that the next time a visitor makes an
offer to "come visit," take them up on it! You never know where it might lead.
We're so glad that Harry and Anne Gunning took a chance and visited us in
Fairhope.
Fran Morley
Fairhope, Alabama
P.S. for more on Tom's music, visit www.flyingfrogmusic.comV