Wednesday, March 17, 2010

St. Patrick's Day

This morning, within the hour probably, I'll start my St. Patrick's Day the way I do every year, the way I have every year for the last 24. I'll head out to the cemetery and share a beer with my Dad.

Dad died just before St. Patrick's Day in 1986. If you've been in Kansas City for a while, you might remember him as the honorary mayor of Westport. That year and all since I take a beer (Schlitz. Dad worked for the local Schlitz distributorship here in KC for 30+ years.*) out to the cemetery on Troost Avenue just after dawn, and I have a sip before pouring the remainder into the dirt over his grave.

I don't mention this to be maudlin at the start of what I'm sure will be –and should be– a very festive day. I mention it only because I think that in the middle of all the parties, parades, eating and drinking (and more drinking) it's important to remember that St. Patrick's Day in America is ultimately about family, tradition, history and heritage. It's about where we came from and why we are the people we've become. It's about the ones who made the sacrifices and hard journeys before us so that our way could be a little easier, whether they came here on a coffin ship or a 747.

I hope that we all have a chance today to lift a glass or two to our own ones gone before, and drink a health to the families and friends who surround us now. And to the people I'm lucky enough to share my St. Patrick's Day with today, thank you all. May we all still be here next year. Happy St. Patrick's Day everybody.

Cheers.

*Coincidentally, one of Dad's competitors back then was the father of my fellow former Irish Fest president and good friend Bob Sullivan, who worked for the rival Falstaff distributorship. 

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Happy St. Patrick's Day Dan, hope it's a great one!
love, T