Hillary Clinton joked that the lavish reception in Belfast Titanic centre "feels like my own wake". She was alluding to the lavish praise heaped on her shoulders by both Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson. She also had in mind the reference of this being her final tour, or her valedictory visit.
She made it clear that is far from the case. When she resigns from her "present post", as she put it, she will be back as a private citizen. She hopes to relax here, to visit friends of whom she has many and to continue injecting the Clinton magic into the peace process.
Her fundraising efforts and her advice will be invaluable. She and her husband Bill have proven themselves true friends to Ireland north and south, Mr Robinson said this was one small corner of Europe where she would always be welcome and amongst friends, Mr McGuinness questioned whether the peace process would have got so far without the close focus that the Clintons have fixed on it.
This won't do her any harm should she stand for office again, perhaps the Presidency, and another Clinton White House would be good for us too. The hard-bitten US press corps who followed her was at first interested only in what she might say about Syria, but ended up impressed by the high regard in which she was held here.
"We will do a story about it," a Reuter's corr said while a senior female writer added: "I am tweeting about it already. It is impressive."
For the US we are, as Kieran McLoughlin, president and chief executive of the Worldwide Ireland Funds explained, a template for other peace processes.
There was plenty of back slapping and goodwill. But there was no mistaking Mrs Clinton's message. She will support us in building an inclusive society, not a divided, bigoted and pointscoring one.
"I want to support you in what you are doing and I hope that we will have a chance to really come to grips with some of the serious remaining problems," she said.
It was an offer of help but also a challenge to deliver from a lady who wants to help.
