THE DAY OF THE GREEN … and if you don’t know what I’m talking about, what planet are you on?! 

Here’s a clue – think shamrocks, pints of Guinness (colored green, of course), rivers washing the edges of city shores, also in green (i.e. Chicago, if they went ahead and did it this year), music – anything from Trad (that means traditional for you neophytes) to U2 to Damien Rice to … the list goes on (Ireland does music really well – and in that comment I just gave you another clue), to the waxing of the poet (NO, they’re not all going for a leg wax!) – any number of poets, from the classic (Yeats, perhaps) to the new (Ireland does that really well too – it’s in the genes – and I am NOT talking about the pants).

In case you haven’t guessed by now — it is — ST. PATRICK’S DAY!!!!!!!

So go on now, give yourself a treat. Turn on some Irish music, sip a glass of Guinness if you like, wear green (a bit or a lot), watch movies with Irish actors (there are a lot of those, the movies and the actors), and generally tip your whatever to the glory of the Irish … and all the joy, poetry, magic and yes, even melancholy they have brought to our world.

As you do, may I leave with you this wee Irish blessing (my version) — May the sun always shine upon your back. May you know joy and delight in all you are and do. And may good things happen and blessings abound for you and those you hold dear, now and always.

Happy St. Pat’s Day, everyone!