img_2060Greater Cincinnati has a long history of celebration – not too much goes by on the calendar to which we don’t pay some form of homage. Any excuse will do for locals to get together and party with friends and family.  I mean we celebrate Goetta for heavens’ sake, ‘nough said.

But there is something extra special in southwest Ohio each year with the ides on the horizon and the faint smell of Spring in the air. Rain or shine, Gaelics and non gather together as equals, dress head to toe in green, sing along with songs no one really knows the words to and oh, drink like bead-cladden drunkards desperately crying out for an intervention the responsible and upstanding citizens we are.   And so it was this past weekend in the Queen City.

We took P down for her first St. Paddy‘s Day Parade. Parades are a crap-shoot for little ones. Half the problem is that unless you’re up at the crack o’dawn to scout out a front row seat (unlikely), there’s very little they can see from their vantage point. So you give them the option of sitting on your husband’s shoulders affording you the rare treat of having both parties complain incessantly – child due to loss of freedom and dad due to loss of blood flow to the brain. A treat for any and all in ear shot. 

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We made it through about half of the parade. The thing had well over 300 entries according to our parade mates Carla and Tom (Michelle and Kevin ventured down too).  And really, as a toddler, you see one blow up leprechaun, you’ve seen ‘em all. Our other parade mates, Mommybits and her crew had the same “been there, done that” vibe going on and so we retreated for some lunch at Rock Bottom Brewery.

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Mid-point in the Parade, boredom had set in

After lunch though, my little Irish lass was reborn. The Unlucky Charms were on the stage down at Fountain Square and P was instantly smitten. We spent another hour or two singing along (ok, murmuring and yelling OY when appropriate) and dancing, dancing, dancing. She had a fantastic time. Highly recommend the Charms if you come across them.  They’ll be at Molly Malones today at Noon (St. Patrick’s Day) – FREE WIFI!

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P made friends old and young, two-legged and four, she is definitely her father’s daughter in that she does not know a stranger. She even made a little love connection with a tiny little dancing Casanova. There were clearly serious sparks, but they’ve agreed to take things slow.

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All and all, a great day. P was exhausted and went down for a nap around 4:30 and didn’t wake up until 8:00 the following morn. A little St. Paddy’s Day present to Mom and Dad indeed.

So to all my Irish brethren and those who wish they were, even if only today: Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!