Saturday, March 17, 2012

....pot 'o gold and a whole lot more.....

.....I love that the Irish dance, drink and feast on St. Patrick's Day......a perfect way to spend a Saturday afternoon on a picturesque NYC spring day......





.....I'm not going to say that getting to the parade was an easy trek.....my kick board is injured, making my stroller only a 2 passenger carrier, opposed to the 3 passenger carrier that we all have become accustomed to.....Stefan had to study all afternoon, so the kids and I had to figure out how we were going to make this day happen.....after many conversations, negotiations, bribing, tears and moments taken to regroup, we eventually made it......



.....and the parade is always well worth it......even if we did not have the best seats in the house, just hearing the bagpipes stirs enough emotion within me to soak in the festivity and to be thankful that I can walk to this happy place of people minutes from where I live.......

.....and earlier in the week, I felt blessed to be around this group of excited little people who all share our beloved tree lined street.....we had a small celebration in honor of the legend of the leprechauns......


.....our imaginary leprechaun friends left the little ones black pots and a playroom filled with hidden gold coins and lucky dollar bills......and they raced to fill their pots with gold.....






....and 144 coins are found in a flash when you have 12 sets of hands grabbing them from up high and down low.....so they spent the rest of the afternoon playing, laughing, running, hiding, and indulging in special treats......





.....so when the day of the parade arrived, my girls were well versed in St. Patrick's Day chatter.....this was going to be our last parade as NYC residents and I was going to get us all there even if it took a bit of extra effort.....


.....having good friends already at the parade was good incentive for two little girls who had to take turns walking......or in St. Patrick's Day terms, we had our treasure at the the end of our rainbow......the rainbow being our long and colorful hike to 5th Ave......our treasure being some of our favorites.....


....and isn't it always the days where maximum effort is required that turn out to be the most rewarding?.....the ones that will offer our children happy memories in their not so distant future.......the ones  that, for my girls, upon hearing a bagpipe; might ignite a smile at the faint memory of learning about the mystical instrument and seeing men in kilts at such a young age?......this was Elsie's fourth parade and Callie's third, after all.....




....at the day's end, after each St. Paddy's parade I have been to in our adored city, I lay down to sleep happy and full.....satisfied and secure......always a long day with many miles of walking to follow the celebration, I am physically worn; but it feels good......I am anxious of anticipation with spring around the corner......I am rejuvenated from the blissful weather, as the sun and warmer breezes always make me feel as if winter has moved past us.......I am tired from lifting babies and toddlers to see the sights of people dancing, laughing, playing music, wearing clever green costumes and celebrating with fervor and spirit.....


.....but I am elated and fulfilled from a day that delivered so much entertainment.......

.....Happy St. Patrick's Day.....

.....hope yours was quite the celebration....