While it may have originated as a
holiday commemorating 'the arrival of Christianity' in Ireland, it's now
commonly observed as a 'celebration of Irish culture'...and the Irish are famed
for their luck.
My Nephew, Jimmy: March
17th was my birthday ~ my mantra as a Senior Citizen is: I'm not old...I've just been young a long
time. My day began with numerous
congratulatory emails...one from my nephew in California whom I've known since
he was 5 years old. (That event was when visiting Chile, having my 4-year-old
son with me. Next time I met him was autumn 1992. Jimmy spent 6 months visiting his Aunt Alice
in Montreal and us in Burlington...conveniently here for my son's wedding. Upon
his return to Chile, he married...then a little later moved to a computer job
in California. Such a a joy for me to
meet him and his wife a few times while my son was on work assignment there
also! Communicating frequently, we keep
well-family-oriented! This morning he
sent me Birthday Greetings including a family photo with his wife and two
boys...who had prepared posters honouring my Birthday. I share his words with you, dear readers, as
they are the most precious any nephew can write to his favoured aunt:
Happy, Happy,
Happy Birthday!
To my dear Tia Merle...the
great, unique and favourite aunt. I wish
you, dear Tia, the happiest birthday ever.
I will never ever forget the great expectation when I was a child, of
your coveted birthday card with one Canadian dollar enclosed for
me...which would come every single year for a time remembered as a true
lifetime. I even get emotional when I
think of it...how nice of you, dear Tia!
Thank you for being so cool...always there...present and ready to
connect...to read and advise. Thank you, thank you, thank you dear Tia. These colourful flowers I send represent my
truly deep feelings for you, Dear Tia Merle.
I send you a big hug and best sentiments from Marcela and boys.
(This message and
flowers brought tears to my eyes.)
My Son's Wife called at 10:30 to wish me
Birthday Greetings...along with their children whoexpressed congratulations and
chatted about University and High School. They plan to meet next week with a
commitment time convenient for all. In early April my son will be home for
medical appointments.
Lunch with Friends at the
RBG: It was 'Spring Break'
...the Royal Botanical Gardens was packed with families galore visiting
exhibits and participating in structured activities...and The Frog Show was on display…featuring 17 species from
around the world. At 11:30 I met with long-time friends for lunch at The Garden
Cafe...the food delicious and the ambiance superb! These ladies have been friends over many, many
years...so always a pleasure when we get together!
A Little Boy Made My Day: In honour of St. Patrick's Day, I was dressed
in a gauzy forest green dress threaded with fine silver striping...wore long
green-stone dangling ear rings and green hand- jewellery. At the table behind
me, sat a mother with two small blond-haired boys. Mommy rose, leaned over my shoulder and said,
“My younger son commented to me about you and said, 'She's Beautiful!'. I glanced at this little boy who appeared
to be 3 or 4 years old...and motioned for him to come to me. Very shy, he was reluctant to do so. I went to him...hugged him...and with a kiss
on his cheek, said,
“Your words were very
sweet!” Quietly he murmured, “Thank
you.”
The Coffee Club is
a group of about a dozen or more women from my seniors' complex who socially
meet every Tuesday afternoon from 1:45 to 3 pm for social friendship, coffee,
tea and light snacks. A birthday cake with candles celebrates those whose
birthday falls within the month. Each
person also presents a Birthday card to the honouree(s). Jeanne and I blew out
the two candle flames making a wish. One
of the attendees, Jane had asked me to show her a photo of me in younger days.
My wish was to look like this black leathered motorcycle gal complete with
black helmet...a photo from 1993. (in those days I was a “Harley Honey”…as
females were called). I read all the card messages and exchanged so all could
view. A card from Barbara ~ depicts a
tropical rain forest 'scape' of a series
of tumbling waterfalls. On the left inner side, a Biblical quote from Genesis
1:27: So God created people in his
own image; God patterned them after
himself. The card further
reads “and the world needs you just the way you are.”
With her signature, she writes,“Enjoy Your Day...Happy Birthday, Merle.”
The Mailbox: A birthday card from my son arrived...postmarked
from New York City...with his usual humour to MOM. I don't have the inspiration to write poetry
like you do. But I know you would be
thrilled with a birthday card...and further adds...I know to you, 'Age
is just a number”...so you can privately enjoy your special age!
Back to St. Patrick:
Returning to my apartment, I'm was in receipt of an email from my son who
forwarded the following from an article by Ted Olsen...The Real St.
Patrick:
'Tis the season for parades,
green beer, shamrocks...and articles talking about why St. Patrick's Day isn't
all about parades, green beer and shamrocks.
First, a few misconceptions
about Patrick: Having never been
officially canonized by Rome, Patrick isn't really a Saint. And Patrick couldn't have driven the snakes
out of Ireland because there were never any snakes there to begin with. He wasn't even the first evangelist to
Ireland. (Palladius had been sent in 431, about 5 years before
Patrick went.) Patrick isn't even
Irish. He's from what's now Dumbarton,
Scotland (just northwest of Glasgow).
Patrick was 16 years old in
about the year 405, when he was captured in a raid and became a slave in what
was still radically pagan Ireland. Far
from home, he clung to the religion he had ignored as a teenager. Even though his grandfather had been a
priest...and his father a town councillor, Patrick 'knew not the true
God'. But forced to tend his master's
sheep in Ireland, he spent his 6 years of bondage mainly in prayer. He escaped at the suggestion of a dream and
returned home.
Patrick was in his mid-40's
when he returned to Ireland.
Palladius had not been very successful in his mission...and the returning
former slave replaced him. Intimately
familiar with the Irish clan system (his former master, Michu, had been a
chieftan), Patrick's strategy was to convert chiefs first...would then convert
their clans through their influence.
Reportedly, Michu was one of his early converts.
Though he was not solely
responsible for converting the island, Patrick was quite successful. He made missionary journeys all over
Ireland...and it soon became known as 'one of Europe's Christian centres.'
This, of course,
was very important to fifth-century Christians...
for whom Ireland was one
of the ...'ends of the earth.'
Audrey Hepburn said, “If
my world were to cave in tomorrow, I would look back on all the pleasures, the
excitements and worth-whileness I have been lucky enough to have
had ~ not the sadness...nor miscarriages...nor my father leaving home...but the
Joy of Everything Else.”
We're lucky
to be exactly where we are...with or without the 'pot of gold'.
Let's make everyday a
“Green Day” for the environment!
Written by Merle
Baird-Kerr...March 18, 2015
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