St. Patrick's Day Toast

Celtic Cross in Ireland

Thatched Cottage on Aran Island

Eet's St. Patrick's Day.  So, aye decided to use a wee bit o' fauncy writin'.  It dos mack a beeg deefferece, I theenk.  

Enough of pretending I can speak with an Irish accent.  It is fun.  I love how some of the dialects in Ireland say their O.  I hear a similar O sound when I'm up in Iron Mountain and I hear people talking in the grocery store.  I can't help but repeat it over in my mind and try it out to myself.  I don't make fun of the dialects, I'm fascinated by them.

I wasn't so fascinated by dialects when I first went to college at eighteen.  I took a lot of teasing over my accent and I didn't even know I had one, at the time.  I worked hard at dropping the "Eh?"  from my sentences and the "You guys".  

I took a walk downtown Ann Arbor this afternoon, to explore and enjoy the sunshine.  I could hear the music from the pubs coming through to the streets.  I stopped to let three young women take pictures of each other in front of Conor O'Neill's Irish Pub.  They had white and green striped socks up to their knees, green glasses, green sweaters, and huge smiles on their faces.  I saw a man with a t-shirt that said, "Happy St. Pitty's Day".  On the back it showed a caricature of a pit-bull and a message to save animals from the animal shelters.  

Storefront in Galway, Ireland

I miss my God-Parents, Clyde and Yvonne O'Rourke, this holiday.  I was going to go to one of the many music events around town, but decided to get out my guitar and sing the Irish Songs I like the most.  Dad was always asking me to sing, "Oh Danny Boy."  That's one I couldn't do this year.  I'm sentimental.  I love a sad song, but this year it was fine to just sing a few of the lively ones and leave it at that.  

Found at a Cemetery in Doolin, Ireland

I'm drinking a stout beer, alone, tonight.  But, I don't feel lonely.  I feel rich and prosperous.  So, here's a toast to you all.  The first one I found in a book of Irish toasts, the second one, I made myself.

Pub In Doolin, Ireland
Mom and I Went Here Several Times
Good Food-Good Music-Good Bailey's

Here's that we may always have

A clean shirt

A clean conscience

And a guinea in our pocket   

May you see the road ahead of you

Clearer than the one left behind,

May the lessons you learned keep you healthy,

humble, honest and kind.