Susan is an 85-year-old American woman living in Ireland. In 1952, when she was 15, Susan met Ray who was 20, and they became sweethearts. During their relationship Susan got to know Ray's family including his older (secretly gay) brother Jack.

Susan and Ray stayed together for 3 years including when Ray went away to fight in the Korean war. At the age of 18 Sue went to college and wanted some independence so the couple went their separate ways.

Susan eventually married someone else, moved to Ireland and had four children. The marriage didn’t last and Susan found herself a single mother in Ireland in her late twenties. It wasn’t easy being a single woman in Ireland in the 70s and 80s and she remained single for the next forty years. Ray also married but stayed in the US with his wife and 3 children. His marriage eventually broke up.

Fast-forward to the mid nineteen nineties. Ray’s brother Jack passed away. While Ray was sorting through his brother’s things, he found a Jewellery box with a note inside that said 'for Susan’. Ray can’t think of anyone his brother knew called Susan except his childhood sweetheart so he decides it is his responsibility to find Susan, so he can fulfil his late brother’s wishes and give her this box.

A few years go by and Ray finally gets an address for Susan and writes to her in Dublin and tells her that something has been bequeathed to her. In 1999, when Susan is in her late 60s and Ray in his 70s, the pair finally meet again. To Susan’s surprise she falls in love with Ray all over again. She is a little reluctant at first but in 2011 after ten years together, they get married in Monkstown, County Dublin where they now live.

As Ray turns 90 in September, they will be marking the occasion with a small celebration and will look back on their lives together, apart and finally together again because of the strange bequest which reunited them across the Atlantic Ocean.

Produced by Mary Elaine Tynan and Tim Desmond.

Sound by Liam O'Brien and Tim Desmond.

First broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1, 2PM, Saturday 10th September 2022

Playlist of songs and versions of songs featured (in order of appearance):

1. The Very Thought of You– Al Bowley.

2. Morning Hymn and Alleluia - from the Sound Of Music.

3. Overture from 'Brigadoon'.

4. Almost Like Being In Love – Gene Kelly.

5. I Want You To Be My Girl. Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers.

6. Let It Snow- Dean Martin.

7. Earth Angel- The Temptations.

8. First Date, First Kiss, First Love - Sonny James.

9. The Very Thought of You - Billie Holiday.

10. Our Future In Wedlock- Peter Broderick.

11. The Very Thought of You - Doris Day.

12. The Very Thought of You - John Batiste.

13. La Mer- Joss Baselli Et Son Orchestre.

14. Love Is Blue-Paul Mauriat.

15. Is That All There Is?- Tony Bennett.

16. The Very Thought of You (feat. Joshua Redman) Joey Alexander.

17. The Very Thought of You-Tony Bennett & Ana Carolina.

18. The Very Thought of You- Nat King Cole.

19. A Woman’s Heart- Eleanor McEvoy.

20. The Very Thought of You- Etta James.

21. Love Is Here To Stay- Tony Bennett & Diana Krall.

22. In A Sentimental Mood- Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.

23. Autumn In New York- Chet Baker.

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries