Guess I wasn’t successful trying to fend off the cold the CE got on the shuttle to the VA Hospital in Chicago in early March. While he’s mostly over his, I’ve just begun. (Yes, it’s just a cold.) The Corona Virus did kill St. Patrick’s Day celebrations this year, including the dying green of the Chicago River as well as the parade. And with the CE’s new vegetarian diet, no corned beef and cabbage for us either. The state lockdown has most restaurants closed, and I couldn’t even go out for a birthday dinner. (grumble grumble) Thinking we’ll have to have a make-up bash in June.
But–it is March and I’m participating in the Reading Ireland Month for 2020. I’ve posted a number of book reviews either by Irish authors or those books with an Irish setting. Last year, I spotlighted Stanley McShane’s book Cocos Island Treasure, a fictionalized story of his sailing trip to a favorite pirate haven (tropic island of the Pacific Ocean) of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in an attempt to find the “Loot of Lima.”
In 2016, “two park rangers (off the coast of Costa Rica) were patrolling a national park* after a recent storm when they uncovered five wooden chests, among other treasures. This find is one of the most extensive in modern times. The treasure consisted of gold and silver coins, ingots, jewelry, candlesticks and religious items. Historians believe that the entire collection is worth about 200 million dollars.
The vocal music background on the book trailer for Cocos Island Treasure is provided by Marc Gunn, self-proclaimed Irish and Celtic Music celtfather. In addition to his albums, he offers a delightful podcast which was available for download on iTunes. I think, however, my favorite album is “Happy Songs of Death.” Otherwise, check him out here.
I highlight six of the manuscripts I published for Patrick J Rose on the “Books by Stanley McShane page. This year, I thought I’d include a poem from Sole Survivor published in 2017, an anthology, collection of short story adventures and poems. The book also includes the story of the recovery of the painting the author used to illustrate his retelling of the sinking of the Marguerite. His poems include laments to his years of trading penny stocks (another book, Hot Air Promotions) as well as anguished cries of love lost.
In Friendship’s Name
Must we say farewell dear heart?
Must we part in bitter sorrow?
Time alone shall tell dear heart
Of the anguish on the morrow.
Tho’ memory brings to me regret
My love remains the same
And I through life could ne’er forget
If we part in friendship’s name.
Once my world was full of gladness
Life was full of song.
The only joy I’ve known dear heart
I treasured all day long.
Now my world is full of sadness
Life’s no longer sweet!
The only joy I’ve known dear heart
You banish at my feet.
As friends we met, as friends we part
I would have dearer grown
As hand in hand and heart to heart
I would you were my own.
Tho’ memory brings to me regret
My love remains the same
And I through life could ne’er forget
If we part in friendship’s name.
As we globally continue to fight this horrible biological catastrophe, my wish for you and yours is to stay safe. Sláinte!
©2020 V Williams 
*The park was closed to treasure hunting exploration in the 1970s.
Rosepoint Publishing 
Take care of yourself Virginia. It is a difficult time for everyone and we all need to do what we can to stay healthy. On another note, I bought your book last year with the intention of reading it during Reading Ireland month this year, but did not get the chance. I still have three more days though.
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oh, thank you! which one? well, at least they are all short. yes, it is difficult. going to the VA hosp a couple weeks ago resulted in hubby’s cold which then resulted in my cold. at least not worse. that appt was important (a follow up EKG). now his appts are via teleconf.
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Cocoa’s Island Treasure. Glad it is not too serious.
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That is his most popular. I’ll be interested to hear what you think of it.
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These are unchartered waters for us all and it’s a difficult time Virginia. Take care and stay well – thankfully we still have our blogs to keep us occupied. xx
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It is nice to have something to concentrate on while my head is swimming with whether or not we have sufficient provisions to keep us going even for another couple weeks. i’d hoped we would reach a peak by the time i’d have to go out again and that doesn’t appear to be the case. hope you can keep well too, your family and loved ones safe.
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