Green Day

St. Patty’s Day came a bit early this year. Our city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade took place on Saturday, and although I wasn’t planning on going, the spring son wooed me out of the house. So, I missed an hour of my intended mission of the day: cleaning (it doesn’t take much to distract me). We arrived downtown just in time to see the first paraders, a group decked out in kilts playing bagpipes. There was a lot of green to go around. Because it had been a while since we’d been to a parade, my two youngest didn’t know what to expect, and I think were taken aback by the candy that was coming their way. They finally got brave enough to pick up a few pieces. When I asked them later if they enjoyed the parade and would want to go back next year, despite the fact that their cheeks were quite rosy (it wasn’t as warm as it looked), five-year-old said, “Yes, because of the candy.” As if they don’t get enough already. There were a few surprises — including a tremendously huge tractor. It looked monstrous next to my little guys. By the time we got home, the corned beef was already simmering in the crockpot.

We’ll have a second shot at green today. It’s fitting that I recently picked up my author friend Lenore McKelvey Puhek’s historical novel, The River’s Edge, which has Irish-in-America woven into it. So far, it is a delightful read.

May you be green enough today to be pinch-free as well!