HAPPY ST PATRICK'S DAY!  ITS A DAY FOR CELEBRATING, IRISH OR NOT.  A DAY FOR WEARING SOMETHING GREEN, GREEN HATS, GREEN BEER, A GREEN RIVER IN CHICAGO AND CORN BEEF AND CABBAGE ON MANY TABLES.

ST PATRICK REPUTEDLY BROUGHT CHRISTIANITY  TO IRELAND, ALTHOUGH SOME SAY HE MERELY ORGANIZED THE ELEMENTS ALREADY THERE.  HE DID NOT DRIVE THE SNAKES OUT OF IRELAND BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER THERE.  MAYBE THATS WHY ITS A NICE PLACE TO VISIT.  THE PARADE IS PROBABLY AN AMERICAN TRADITION, MORE THAN IRISH, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE SHABBY TREATMENT OF THE IRISH BY AMERICANS AND WANTING TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THOSE WHO CAME HERE TO ESCAPE THE POTATO FAMINE.  

IRISH OR NOT WE CAN ALL CELEBRATE THE GOOD THINGS THE IRISH HAVE BROUGHT TO OUR SHORES BUT GO EASY ON THE PUB OFFERINGS.

I'LL BE WEARING MY IRISH HAT TODAY.  ITS NOT GREEN, BUT IT WAS MADE BY J. J. MAGUIRE IN DONEGAL.

OUR PARADE HAPPENED LAST SATURDAY, SO WE CAN CELEBRATE TWO DAYS. ARE YOU CELEBRATING?