Pete Sheehan | TLIC
Author Magnus Walsh at the Cold Spring Harbor Library.
Author Magnus Walsh at the Cold Spring Harbor Library.
St. Patrick’s parishioner writes book celebrating Huntington
COLD SPRING HARBOR — As many people around here will tell you, Magnus Walsh, local freelance writer and man about town, loves living in the Huntington/Lloyd Harbor area.
“I’ve lived here all my life,” he said, having grown up in Lloyd Harbor and graduated from Cold Spring Harbor High School. Walsh spends much of his time walking around the Huntington area, enjoying his surroundings, including the people who live here.
He is a familiar sight around town, sometimes running, other times clad in a jacket and tie and sneakers, pleasantly chatting with the many people he knows. Now Walsh is showing his love to the community with “Five O’Clock & All’s Well,” a collection of anecdotes — most of which celebrate the Huntington area.
“I wanted to write a positive book with stories that make people feel better about life and about themselves,” said Walsh, a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church, Huntington.
Reflecting his love for the area, he included pictures from a local photographer, Michael Fairchild, in the book, which was published by Rosalie Ink Publications here. The book is available at one of Walsh’s favorite places, the Book Revue in Huntington.
“Magnus is a very faithful usher at our parish’s 5:30 Sunday Mass,” said Msgr. John Bennett, pastor of St. Patrick’s, “and very involved in the Friends of the Seminary,” which supports the nearby Seminary of the Immaculate Conception.
“Magnus is a fine fellow,” said Father Tom Tuite, associate pastor at St. Patrick’s. “His enthusiasm for people is obvious.”
One inspiration for his book is also the first story that appears there, about a “cold, dreary, fiercely raining, miserable day in March,” when Walsh was at a local bakery for lunch. He heard a customer complaining to the cashier about how bad the day was. Walsh bought her a cup of tea so that she could warm up. “She suddenly grabbed my arm with an intense force, and her face was transformed, beaming with happiness,” Walsh wrote.
“I was blown away” that such a little thing as a cup of tea meant so much to her. “It changed the day for me, too, because I wasn’t having the greatest day either. We all can do that for each other.”
“It’s an interesting book,” Msgr. Bennett said. “He writes about people and places and usually doesn’t give the real names, but many of them would be recognized by people who live around here. And there is a bit of spirituality in how he tells the stories.”
Stories include one about a friend who gives large tips to grumpy waitresses and watches as their faces brighten. Another story features Cindy, who was in such a bad mood that she went to a gas station to buy only $5 worth of gas simply to annoy the attendant. The attendant instead cheerfully washed her windows and checked under the hood of her car. She left happy.
Another time Walsh was driving and saw hundreds of plastic cups discarded along the roadside. He drove back planning to pick them up, but somebody had already done so.
Walsh also writes about places, such as the Golden Dolphin Diner and a pizzeria that sells slices for a low price, attracting both wealthy and not-so-well off customers. In addition, he celebrates the natural beauty of a garden at the local post office, flowers in different places, wild raspberries that are free for anyone to pick, eat, and enjoy, as well as the view of the water from one of his favorite haunts, Cold Spring Harbor Library.
“I love the children’s reading room,” which is painted with familiar local nature scenes, said Walsh. “It’s a great place to think. I get a lot of my ideas for writing.”
He also writes about St. Patrick’s Church and the seminary. “My faith is important to me but I don’t go around preaching. I try to let my actions speak.”
Walsh hopes to write more books helping people “to pay attention to what is going on around them. There is a lot to be happy about.”
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