Enjoy the magical qualities of St. Patrick's Day

Everyone's Irish on St. Patrick's Day — well, at least in the East, especially in New York City where the bagel shops even make green bagels.

In Greenwich, Conn., the town in which we lived for 35 years, the center line of the parade route down Main Street was painted green annually.

It's an unofficial holiday that really piques interest, especially in children, because of its magical qualities. What child hasn't dreamed of being the one who finds the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow?

While living on the East Coast, if there was any risk of running into the I-95 rush hour, we preferred riding the Metro North. One morning we got on the train forgetting it was St. Patrick's Day. The minute we boarded the train it was obvious this wouldn't be a regular train ride. Our first clue was there were few seats left, with riders from several stations yet to board.

The second clue? Unlike the usually somber mood on a commuter train ride where most passengers hardly look up from their papers, there was gaiety, friendliness and the "lilt of Irish laughter."

It was a bit early for anyone to be drinking. However, there is an old traditional song that goes: "But I care not from whence now he's risen to fame, The pride of the world and his enemies scorning / I will drink to St. Patrick, today in the morning."

So, who knew? Probably so many were wisely riding the train so they could go to the parade and party with no need to drive home.

Growing up in Utah during the '50s, I don't remember anyone who claimed to be Irish or had an affinity for corned beef and cabbage. But my memory can't be trusted much since that was 50 years ago. We certainly were caught up in the thoughts of leprechauns, four-leaf clovers and the vision of St. Patrick chasing the snakes out of Ireland.

No child would have dared not to wear green or the youngster would have likely returned home from school black and blue from pinches.

My friend Gail Thorne recalls her favorite "wearing of the green" day when she worked in a Phoenix bank. After work everyone was invited to an Irish pub where they learned the Irish jig. The pub had a permit that allowed revelers to flow onto the sidewalks to dance, and they had a grand old time.

This year, for the first time since 1940, St. Patrick's Day is seven days preceding Easter during Holy Week. The timing caused cities such as Savannah, Ga., and Philadelphia to move celebrations to an earlier date, but Columbus, Ohio, forged ahead, causing a royal brouhaha there. Isn't that just so "Irish" ?

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