I ambled along the road with an older woman I had recently met, passing the time with enjoyable small talk about diva daughters and the benefits of keeping yourself moving. As we reached her car, she ended the conversation by saying:
‘God bless.’
I felt warm inside. The words brought to mind a kitchen filled with the smell of cooking and the sound of laughter.
Saying God Bless
It’s been a while since I’ve heard someone say, ‘God bless.’ It’s mainly older people who say it, to sign off a conversation or to express gratitude. Like when you bring them a cup of tea and they say, ‘God bless you.’
But I can’t bring myself to say God Bless when I’m saying goodbye. Not because I’ve a problem with it. I think you’d want to be a very ornery sort of atheist to object to it.
God Bless As A Shield
Instead, I use God Bless in the guilty way that many Irish people use it, as a preface to unkind remarks.
‘God bless Seamus, but he’s an awful eejit.’
I’m using ‘God bless,’ as a shield. A remark can’t be too unkind if you preface it with God, can it?
Photo Description: This is a dark-grey shield with the words God Bless written in pink over it.
Alternatives to God Bless
I wish I could use God Bless to finish off my conversations, but it simply doesn’t trip off my tongue. Instead, I sign off with ‘Take care’ or ‘Have a good day,’ as if I were a bored waitress in an American diner.
Or I could be inspired by Blindboy Boatclub, a committed atheist, who says ‘Dog bless.’ But Blindboy can get away with that because he’s cool.
If I could get away with it, what I want to say is, ‘Gwan!’ like I’m at a GAA match or a horse race. Gwan is a heartfelt cry from the soul. It champions you. It tells you to go on, go on, go on, through life’s travails and out the other side. It tells you to go for it.
So, I will sign off now by saying, ‘Gwan ye good things,’ for 2024.