I remember when I was in elementary school, how much I wished I could say I was Irish.
I just loved St. Paddy's Day. I loved the gold chocolate coins, the gnomes and leprechauns, four-leafed clovers, lucky charms cereal, the "luck" of the Irish, and the food we'd eat only once a year (Corned beef, cabbage--okay, maybe medium on the cabbage, potatoes. Since I don't drink, I never undestood the whole green beer thing, but I guess if you're a leprechaun you'd need a mini-pint of green beer after a day of workin' with the man!).
As I grew older, the holiday had even more appeal to me--because I realized that the Irish-American people are a pretty unified group. And, I really like seeing how complete strangers can find friendship in one common characteristic. You're 1/18th Irish, I'm 1/56th Irish--ah, Danny Boy! (Plus, about this time River Dance was HUGE--and who doesn't like tap-dancing Irish women?)
So, imagine my surprise when I met Dave and learned that his Dad's family was IRISH (translation--Dave's Irish!)! (And I didn't know this because there wasn't a Mc or an O' in front of his last name--apparently the O was dropped at some point.)
So, now I'm Irish. (And don't think I'm not claiming that heritage, people.)
Funny sidenote:
One year I was thinking, "I'm getting a shirt or something that says I'm Irish for St. Paddy's Day. So, lucky me, Target had these Tees that said, "Kiss Me, I'm Irish," and I thought--who wouldn't want strangers kissing them on March 17th? LOL.
At this particular time, we were living in Los Angeles and had 3 kids. We'd just moved to a new ward (congregation), and some of my new friends at church invited the kids and I to McDonald's for a playdate on St. Paddy's Day. Sounded like an honorable thing for an Irishwoman to do to me--frequent an Irish fast-food place: McDonald's. Plus, I could get a shamrock shake and really show my Irishness.
St. Paddy's Day arrived and I put on my new Target shirt, got the kids in some green clothing, and went to this playdate. We were having a great time, and I was feeling like I may have made some really good friends here from church
. . . and that's when it happened.
Esther, this 20-something mother of 4 from Utah, who was also the YW president, came up to me and KISSED ME ON THE LIPS! At McDonald's PlayLand for blarney stone's sake!
Now, I know most of you could just roll with a situation like this.
But, I'm not sure I've ever fully recovered.
Sidenote #2:
Shouldn't there be an American holiday for every race/ethnicity/culture? I know there are a few here in the US--Christmas and Easter for Christians, Thanksgiving for ALL Americans, Halloween for the witches (just kiddng), and Cinco de Mayo for the Mexicans (or is it all Latins?), but we could use a little more unity here, no?
