Saturday, March 19, 2011

Belated Reflections on St. Patrick's Day


I admit that I was raised with the thought that if you are not Irish (I'm not) then you don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Silly, I know, but for six decades that idea stayed with me.

For the first time this year, I paid homage to our dear Irish friends and their heritage by decorating my gargoyle with green shamrocks and making - for the first time ever - a huge pot of corned beef and cabbage. It felt so right! I even received my first St. Patrick's Day card. How did she know?!

To not celebrate others' holidays is a selfish exclusion and message of intolerance that, I realize now, is unbecoming and a reflection of how we feel about the world and our place in it. Making that pot of corned beef, cabbage, red potatoes and carrots affirmed that I am a citizen of this world and a sister to all those of different nationalities and beliefs. I know this. I agree with this, but old habits die hard.

I just killed another one two days ago.