“May your troubles be less. And your blessings be more. And nothing but happiness come through your door.”
Today is rainy and gloomy. The temperature is 42˚. It is a quiet St. Patrick’s Day. All the pubs and bars are closed. Massachusetts is shut down: schools and businesses are closed, and nearly all gatherings canceled. I figure this is the time to celebrate with friends.
When I was in St. Patrick’s Shamrocks drill team, we marched in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade, cancelled this year. Along the parade route, drunken men would march beside us chit-chatting and offering us sips of beer. We were told to ignore them. As if we could. They’d leave us after we had moved on, beyond their local bar. After a couple of years, we no longer marched in South Boston.
My mother sometimes had a St. Patrick’s Day party. I always drove up to my parents’ house for the event. She gave great parties. I remember my father and my uncle Jack singing Irish songs in the kitchen and all of us joining in with them. The kitchen was filled with people. The windows steamed, and the cigarette smoke had us opening the back door. The parties always lasted into the wee mornings. I miss those times.
On my dog Shauna’s first St. Patrick’s Day, my father gave her a plate of corned beef and cabbage because she was Irish. My father loved his corned beef and cabbage. I know I’ve told this story before, but I always remember on St. Patrick’s Day. My mother had cooked the traditional dinner and was putting my father’s dinner on his plate. She couldn’t find the potatoes. She looked under the meat, no potatoes. She looked through the whole pot, no potatoes. She dished out my dad’s dinner and brought it to him. “Where are the potatoes?” was his first comment.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
Explore posts in the same categories: Musings
keepthecoffeecoming.blog 
March 17, 2020 at 1:25 pm
Everything is still open here except for the cinemas, no one went to them so they decided to clkose until this is over. Besides that everything is stillopen but airline companies and travel companies are closing down now. All countrties butr we have closed their borders so they have nothing to do.
We don’t celebrate St. Patricks here but I never tire of that story about the missing potatoes 🙂 🙂 🙂
Have a great day and stay away from the Corona.
Christer.
March 17, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Hi Christer,
It would be easier to list what is open. The country keeps shutting down. I feel so sorry for hourly employees whose work places have been closed. It took Trump a long time to stop calling this a hoax.The lack of preparation is this fault.
I’m going to spend the evening with friends.
March 17, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Meanwhile, deflation in the Bob Kraft World kicks in to high gear as Mr Brady decides it is done. I am sure that around the Corona ridden USA there is general giggling and hoping that Cody Kessler takes the helm of the Pats.
I am working, The roads are empty.
March 17, 2020 at 2:22 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I am sorry to see Tom go. I had hoped he’d finish his career here where he started. I wonder what’s next.
I need to go out in a bit, but I’m sure it is the same here. The Cape’s population is aging and the average is 51. It will be a ghost town.
March 17, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Happy St. Patrick’s Day, Kat!
What did happen to the potatoes?
The day started with some polite snow probably because I put the snowblower away for the season. Mother Nature could be letting me know I might have been premature with that decision. 🙂
Thanks for The Parting Glass by The Chieftains. It’s one of my all time favorite songs.
Enjoy the day.
March 17, 2020 at 2:30 pm
Hi Caryn,
Thanks and top o’ the morning to you!
I think the potatoes overcooked and disintegrated. It is favorite Ryan family lore.
No snow down here, but it is raw.
It is also favorite song of mine. You are most welcome.
March 17, 2020 at 6:22 pm
Happy St. Patrick’s Day and stay healthy!
March 17, 2020 at 9:41 pm
Thanks, Birgit
It was a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day. I’m hoping to stay healthy!
March 17, 2020 at 7:03 pm
Hi Kat,
Happy St. Patrick’s Day. Unfortunately, this is the 18th anniversary of my father’s death. 😦 He was a party kind of guy and would lift a glass and celebrate the Irish with the best of them. 🙂 Yesterday the city of Dallas closed all the theaters, bars, entertainment venues and restaurants except for takeout or delivery. This killed both the parades and the public celebrations. It’s also day number 2 of my forced working at home. 😦 Please G-d put an end this virus before we all kill each other at home. Or, kill each other fighting over TP and hand sanitizer at the grocery stores.
The traditional Corned Beef served with cabbage didn’t come from the Emerald Isle but from Irish immigrants who fell in love with the Corned Beef they discovered in Jewish delicatessens. They lived in the same immigrant neighborhoods in cities such as Boston, NY and other east coast gateways to America. We are more of a melting pot than we like to admit.
Today was cloudy again with a chance of rain. No rain yet today.
March 17, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Hi Bob,
Your father was a man after my own heart! He and my Dad would have liked each other.
It was a few days ago when everything was closed here: all the schools, restaurants, except for takeout, bars and many stores. The annual parade in South Boston was cancelled last week. Soon enough no one will be allowed out of the house. I need to shop a bit. Stop and Shop, starting Thursday, will open stores from 6 to 8:30 AM for older people which means I’ll be there.
Dinner was delicious, as good a St. Patrick’sdinner as I’ve had.
March 18, 2020 at 1:11 am
Happy St Patrick’s Day, Kat! Éirinn go Brách! Had a nice dinner and a few drinks and enjoyed your great post. Not at all a bad way to hole up.
March 18, 2020 at 9:20 am
Thanks, Rowen
I had a wonderful evening with friends. We had a great dinner and played our usual weekly games: Phase 10 and Sorry. It was a fun evening. Glad yours was too.
March 18, 2020 at 11:08 am
Hello Kat,
I don’t know whether you will be interested or not, but I sent you an invite to my new private blog. It went to the comcast account I had on file. If you’re not interested, I’ll understand, but if you are, you could email any new address to the one I used to sign in below.
A belated Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 18, 2020 at 11:12 am
Hi Marie,
I hope all is well with you. Thank you for the invitation. I”ll certainly check out your blog!
Thanks again!!
March 18, 2020 at 12:10 pm
I’m glad, Kat. If you have any difficulty signing in, just email me at the ATC address.
Look after yourself – have you posted any pictures of Henry on the blog?
March 18, 2020 at 12:22 pm
I haven’t posted recent pictures. Henry knows when I’m going to take a picture so he runs. He is doing really well. I had a behavioral vet check him out as he is afraid of so many things. She called him a special needs dog and put him on medication. It has really helped.