Yes, I'm wearing the Green today, in honor of my ancestors with long-ago roots in Ireland. They left the known for the unknown in 1730, when this country was still great stretches of unbroken green, wild and untrod, and those steps were taken on Faith and pure Grit. I'd rather claim those hard-working, hardscrabble farmers, leaving those smoky, humble crofts and taking only their hope and their callused hands to a new land, than anyone's born-to-the-manor family line.
In Keats' A Thing Of Beauty, the first line is widely quoted, often used, and most likely the only part remembered by most folks. But the last---Ahhh, the Last. It stands beautiful head and shoulders above any lines which come before:
I send my herald thought into a wilderness:
There let its trumpet blow, and quickly dress
My uncertain path with green, that I may speed
Easily onward, through flowers and weed.
And to SWEETPEA, standing in Dublin this minute in her band uniform, ready to step out into the parade: We're SO proud of you!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day, with Godspeed and Traveling Grace to guide you back home.
ps The parade was FABULOUS!! We're sitting down to warm Bread Pudding and crisp bacon and several fabulous cheeses at 11:20. May all your DAY be sweet!
It’s amazing to think of all those hard working, forward thinking people who took a leap of faith and ventured on to come across the ocean to a new life…so far and different than their own. How brave! Hope your day was full of fun shenanigans, lots of luck 🍀 and plenty of love. Sincere congratulations to SWEETPEA, happy, safe, fun travels, enjoy every minute! Happy day, Virginia
ReplyDeleteI hope yours was Happy, as well, Virginia! We had a quiet day, after the drums went silent---I wonder how many a past relative or Grand-before had that exact experience after dangerous expectations---the Reprieve of Silence.
DeleteWe had a nice "brunch" and then a tiny re-cap about midnight, as we both woke from naps and delved into the leftovers. Some of the best conversation is at unexpected times, isn't it?
We saw our Girl from several different venues, and I got to record quite a few glimpses of her as she passed by. Their penultimate performance, save for those around Graduation in June.
Thank you for all the sweet wishes, and for looking in on our little doings.
We always thought we were Irish due to my grandfather's last name. Then came dna testing and genealogy research. It turns out that way back in England our ancestors were illiterate and the last name was butchered several times until it ended up entirely different with an "O'" added in front of it. We are not Irish much to the dismay of my children who like an excuse to go out on St Patrick's Day.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that odd---the slip of a pen at Ellis Island has changed so many names over the centuries. We are definitely Irish---my Grandmother was Granddaughter of a Murphree and a Mississippi Choctaw woman, so there were whole generations of brown-eyed redheads in our Family Tree.
DeleteAnd any excuse to celebrate is OK with me.
I hope your St. Patrick's day was happy. This is such a lovely post and the photo spot on!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment on my blog post. I have loved visiting Ireland many times through the years and I know your SWEETPEA must have enjoyed her march in the band in ireland very much!
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