Happy Saint Patrick’s Day. I love the story of Saint Patrick. So much so, in fact, that Chunky’s middle name is Padraig, the Gaelic version of Patrick. More on that later.
Of course everyone’s familiar with the tale, but if you’re interested in a good fictional account of Patrick’s life, I recommend Stephen Lawhead’s
Patrick: Son of Ireland. Or, this informative short (9 minutes) from Big Idea.
I have to admit, whenever I use a metaphor in my writing, I find myself mumbling, “Oh great metaphor” in a cheesy Irish accent.
So we always celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in some form or another. We’ve tried attending parades but Monkey is very sensitive to strong odors and loudly objects to the horses and a few of the bagpipers. I usually make corned beef and cabbage or Guinness stew, which Monkey also loudly objects to.
For several years I tried to make Irish soda bread, but I’ve only ever managed to make Irish soda rocks. This year my brother is in town, and since he’s an accomplished baker, he’ll be the one cutting an X on the dough to let the fairies escape.
Speaking of fairies, my six-year-old constructed a leprechaun trap out of a cardboard box, wrapping paper tube, and popsicle sticks. This required the poor kid to eat five or six popsicles in a row. I’m not sure how he survived the brain freeze.
If you follow this blog, you know about our recent
Epic Tooth Fairy Fail. I’m worried we’re headed for the Great Leprechaun Disappointment. So worried, in fact, that I tried to convince my husband to let me buy a hamster to put in the leprechaun trap. I planned to tell Chunky the legend of Binky the Leprechaun, a rather jumpy member of the wee folk, who turns into a hamster when startled.
Being sane, my husband gently discouraged my scheme. So I found this instead.
I’m going to leave it in the trap with a note from the “real” leprechaun. I just hope this doesn’t lead to a new tradition of yet another benevolent fairytale creature funded by Mom and Dad’s savings account. But if it does, at least we’ll make some fun memories along the way to bankruptcy.
I’m curious. Do you celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day? How? If you leave me a comment about how you spend your St. Patty’s Days, I’ll put your name in a drawing for The
Dragon and the Turtle Go on Safari. After all, it’s not a coincidence that both my son and the little red dragon are named after Saint Patrick.
To give you time to party, sober up, and make up a good story, I’ll give you a week to make comments. I’ll do the drawing next Thursday, March 24th.
Now get your green on!
