Got a Happy Story? St Patrick's Edition

Got a Happy Story is a community gathering every Friday night where we share stories large and small that have put a smile on our face.  It is a time to acknowledge the joy and wonder we experience.  The Happy Story diary exists as a way to anchor the community in hope and comfort while we do the hard work of taking back our country. Everyone and all sorts of stories and pictures are welcome. May we find joy and strength here.

I've had a bit of a busy week so this will be a few odds and ends added together.  In my house if this diary were a recipe it would be known as "emptying the fridge," with the leftovers going into soup or casserole or sauced over pasta.

I'd intended to do a lovely little piece on the patron saint of Ireland but thought that might be better saved for Street Prophets.  So I'll pass along a few tidbits about St. Pádraig, share a few of my favorite holiday traditions, and cap it off with an Irish toast and blessing.

Much of what we've learned about St. Pádraig over the years was not entirely accurate.  But I've always thought of him as a man of nature and none of the new research contradicts that image.  In my mind's eye he is herding sheep on the unforgiving rocky coast of northwest Ireland.  I love his prayer, St Patrick's Breastplate for the evocative images and the totality of being to which he refers.  Although it is far from the most familiar portion of the prayer, my favorite section is:

...I arise today through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The firmness of rocks...

He speaks of awakening connected with nature all around him and that is something I seek.  Although I am more in the midst of nature than many, I tend to awake focused on the clock, my son's stomach, and my endless list of tasks.  I want to push myself more to awake focused on the sound of the ocean, the light of the sun and the feel of the wind.  For those who are interested in a little meditative trip with a longer part of the prayer, you can find it here.

So Monday is not only the feast day for the patron saint of the Archdiocese of Boston, it is also Evacutation Day--a legal holiday in Suffolk County of Massachusetts.  Evacuation Day commemorates the day the British fled Boston in 1776 after an 11 month siege.  There were many Irish Catholics among General Washington's troops and they helped to drive out the British.

I skip the parade in South Boston because of the ban on Irish LGBT groups marching.  The LGBT community is welcome to march in the parades in Ireland and I won't support homophobia.  So we'll do the local one on the South Shore on Sunday.  But my favorite St. Patrick's tradition is something I've been doing for the past 10 years, getting together with other sober women the Saturday before St. Patrick's day, hanging out together, and talking sobriety.  Tomorrow is the 10th year we've been doing it and it has grown every year.

On the actual feast day I'll make wheaten bread for me, corned beef for soberdad, and Irish brownies for soberboy.  We each have our food which represents our heritage.  I fell in love with wheaten bread when I was over in Ireland.  I had it with tea for a late morning snack every day.  soberdad grew up with the tradiional Irish American boiled dinner so I'll be making it for him on Monday.  soberboy hasn't been to Ireland, and doesn't like corned beef, but he's a fan of my Irish brownie recipe.  I made a triple batch this afternoon.  

When the Irish toast they say Sláinte--to your health.  Here's an Irish toast that would seem to work well both for us and for the pols who will be attending the annual St. Patrick's Day Breakfast in Boston.

May you have the hindsight to know where you've been,
The insight to know where you are,
and the foresight to know when you've gone too far.

For whatever kind of week you've had, I'll leave off with an old Irish Blessing.

May you see God's light on the path ahead
When the road you walk is dark.
May you always hear,
Even in your hour of sorrow,
The gentle singing of the lark.
When times are hard may hardness
Never turn your heart to stone,
May you always remember
when the shadows fall—
You do not walk alone.

Please share your happy story with us this week.

Beannachtaí na Féile Pádraig!