What Dreams are Made of

By Edna McCabe

Part 12 - Boyfriends and Girlfriends

It would be nice to think that everything is as lovely now as it was when we were all together. But naturally the children grew up girlfriends and boyfriends came along and things changed forever. When Martin was about nine and Declan three, Grace brought her boyfriend, Larry Grouden, home. He was (and is) a nice quiet boy and we knew he would be ideal for Grace. When she brought him home we could see the signs of love and in no time they became engaged.

In the meantime Valerie was getting around and enjoying herself. She always managed to meet her friends and sometimes she meet Denis Byrne, our friend, and he'd leave her home. Mary became friends with Frank Lee when they both helped in a local shop during the Bingo rush hour. At this time Tina too had started to find her feet at the discos.

About this time Grace got a job she really liked, working in a betting office. Valerie got a good result in the Leaving Certificate and she got two job offers in Dublin one in the Civil Service and the other in a bank. However, Valerie refused to go to Dublin. We kept hoping that she'd change her mind, as we felt Dublin would present her with opportunities. Furthermore, a nun from her school told us that Valerie had a definite talent for art, which she cold develop through night classes in Dublin.

Soon Grace and Larry were planning their wedding for July and we were all getting excited. When all this was going on we discovered that Valerie and Denis had become an "item", as they call it those days. Denis had been leaving her home regularly and one night he told us that his intentions were honourable and that he and Valerie wanted to get "hitched". Nothing had prepared us for this.

We discussed the matter for ages, pointing out Valerie's age, her prospects etc., but to no avail. Denis said, "I have a house, we love each other and want to be together." Well, Martin and I waited until they were all gone out and the two boys were in bed. Then he pointed out to me how, many years ago, we too had only wanted to be together forever. As if I could ever forget! We had learned the highs and lows of love. Martin said if he had been in Dublin when I was seventeen we would have been married. And I said "And have had twelve children!". I then asked, "When will we tell Valerie and Dennis?" He said, "I tell you tomorrow."

I don't know which of them was the most surprised when Martin told them to go ahead and make their plans. Denis asked said "When?" and Martin replied, "Next week if you like." That was it. They became engaged in September and planned their marriage for Valentine's Day that February. Actually, it was the 15th of February, D Day, the day of the changeover from L/S/d to the new currency system. One of Valerie's aunties called Denis, Valerie's "little decimal". He was so small, Valerie was a good head above him.

Denis knew we loved him but he also knew we didn't like his Bohemian way of life and his carefree attitude. I was confused by his way of life but I need not have worried. Valerie and Dennis had a wonderful life and they were very popular. Denis continued to visit us, sometimes on his own and Martin and himself had their usual involved discussions. But what was more important was that he loved Valerie and we knew they were going to make it.

The two girls Grace and Valerie were now engaged so there was talk of a double wedding. Great discussions went on but in the end it was clear that both couples both wanted their own special days. So February was to be for Valerie and July for Grace. Both weddings were wonderful in their different ways. Valerie and Denis had theirs on a cold winter's day and Grace and Larry has a lovely summer's day. Declan was pageboy with his cousin Edna and Martin Junior was an altar boy. Mary and Tina were bridesmaids so all the family took part.

However through all the joy there was also a little sadness at the thought of two children leaving the family circle. We were left with four in family and I could see Mary coming along next. She and Frank Lee were best friends by now and that friendship matured to love.

Mary's wedding was on Valentines Day and she was a lovely bride, as she walked up the aisle on her dad's arm. I remembered how as a little girl she followed him around, and I wondered how he felt giving her away. Martin said she was too happy to think of anything, and he was proud to hand her over to Frank. All the little Brownies were there to give her a guard of honour, as she had been their leader. It was a lovely occasion but I felt a bit sad at times at the thought of all the children leaving home. Martin always cheered me out and said, "Edna, don't forget you'll still have me".

During this time Denis Byrne opened his own shop, The Curtain Centre. We used to meet Dennis and Valerie in Sean's Bar, especially when there was music there. They were a very popular couple and we used to meet all their friends. Every thing was going well for them and Dennis had a cabin cruiser of his own, as he and Valerie loved going on boat rallies. On one occasion they arranged for Martin and I to join them on a rally. About this time Valerie got a job in a solicitor's office.

Grace and Larry built their own house in Glasson and Mary and Frank set off to live in Cloughjordan, in County Tipperary where Frank had a job. I longed for the day when Mary could come back to Athlone, as she was such a home bird.

Two years later, Marian. Grace's daughter, and Valerie's son Dominic were born. Dominic was named after Denis' friend Dominic Rouse who had recently been ordained. Sadly he was killed while on a walking trip in Germany.

Then along came Tom Elliffe and swept Tina off her feet. The love bug hit them so quickly that in no time at all they were engaged and married. All my girls were now gone. However, Tina wasn't far from us as she got a lovely little house by the river and it didn't seem she had left at all, as I could call in to her for a cup of tea. Shortly after her marriage she too went back to work in the Chemist's. It belonged to Frank Rouse, the husband of her old Guide Leader, Elsa. She loved her job and she didn't leave it until first Lynn, her first child arrived. Then along came a son, Karl.

Years later, the Elliffes built their own house in Coosan and they had two more girls, Tracy and Kate. We used to share babysitting duties with Evelyn Elliffe, Tina's mother-in-law. She and Tina were very great friends. She was a mother-in-law in a million. Tina was heartbroken when, years later, she passed on. When the children got older Tina became a supervisor in Mallinckrodt factory in Athlone.