“St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time — a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.”
I have a long association with St. Patrick. My first eight years of school were at at Patrick’s Elementary School. I belonged to St. Patrick’s Shamrocks drill team from when I was 10 until I was 16 when I moved away. I remember marching in South Boston on St. Patrick’s Day. I also remember trying to avoid the merrymakers who had already been sipping green beer and wanted to march with us. We are Irish. I just have to give my name and people know right away. Really, what else could Kathleen Ryan be? My sisters are Sheila and Maureen.
I can remember St. Patrick’s Day at my parents’ house. My mother always made a huge dinner. She didn’t use corn beef as she preferred a shoulder roast. My father loved those boiled dinners. One St. Patrick’s Day, though, the potatoes disappeared. They had fallen apart in the pan. My father hunted and hunted anyway hoping one had survived. His disappointment was palpable.
Some years my parents invited friends and family. The kitchen was where everyone seemed to settle. The back door was always left open for air what with the heat of the stove, the number of people and the cigarette smoke. It never took long back then before the singing started. My father had a great voice. I remember him singing all the Irish songs. I remember my mother’s friend Becki who went as far back as high school sitting in the same seat at all my parents’ parties, her back to the kitchen windows. I can still see her with a drink in one hand, a cigarette in another and her voice raised in song. My Uncle Jack would stand with my Dad, and the two of them would sing with their arms across each others’ shoulders. Those were great parties.
I’m heading to my friend’s house tonight for corned beef and cabbage. We’ll raise our glasses to toast St. Patrick, the Irish, the Ring of Kerry, leprechauns and whatever else comes to mind. Maybe, after a few toasts, we’ll do a bit of a jig, in keeping with the day of course.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
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keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
March 17, 2018 at 12:34 pm
Have a wonderful day. Interestingly, according to the TV show, “Food, Fact or Fiction”. Corned beef is not a traditional Irish dish but an Irish American dish. When the Irish arrived in this country and settled in big cities like NY and Boston they discovered corned beef in the Kosher delicatessens of their Eastern European Jewish neighbors and adopted the meat.
My father passed away today twelve years ago. Every St. Patrick Day I raise a beer,Noreen or otherwise in his memory.
Today is sunny with a predicted high in the 80s. Possible rain tonight.
March 17, 2018 at 1:07 pm
Bob,
My Dad passed away 25 years ago on March 14th. My mother put a green carnation on his lapel.
I love corned beef and cabbage. I always add a turnip, one of my favorite vegetables. In the past, I have served lamb.
It is cold tin the day and really cold at night. It was below freezing this morning.
March 17, 2018 at 12:57 pm
Happy St. Patrick’s day!
Christer.
March 17, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Many thanks, Christer.
March 17, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Winter is back. Finally snow 🙂
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Birgit,
Winter is back here too as it is just so cold. The sun does melt the snow then it freezes every night. I want warm days!