It was 1991, and I was newly separated and living with my kids in a three bedroom apartment just a few miles from our old home. I was feeling optimistic about the future and wanted to take a stand for womanhood everywhere.
So I hosted a St. Patricia’s Day party on March 17th. Only my female friends were invited. Wait, I didn’t have any male friends. They all belonged to my husband.
At my party, I served canned corned beef and boiled cabbage and, for dessert, I’d had a grocery store cake decorated in green, with the inscription “Erin Go Braghless.”
I remember it being fun and I felt brave and free. That was twenty years ago.
These days I still feel free but often not so brave. I now know too much. However, I do feel a small ocean’s worth of compassion and love for the woman I was back then, a woman who would make quite a few mistakes, but a woman with enough courage (and cluelessness) to get up each morning and put on her shoes and start her day.
I’m still that same woman.
Happy St. Patricia’s Day.
11 comments:
Same woman, but most likely better for the journey.
Been there, with out the kids, and sometimes wonder how things got done, but they did. Your trip was much harder but also more rewarding. Like you said, one foot just followed the other.
Loved "Erin Go Braghless" since that is my favorite dress mode these days. Summer will end that.Sigh.
Interesting concept - to look back from where we are now to a certain time and place and know our feelings then. My memories took me back to some different stages. You're still brave and free - trying new things. And we all get through this world by putting one foot in front of the other, following our nose, breathing ( in and out) and muddling through as best we can.
Happy St. Patrick's Day, my Irish friend. A teacher friend was Irish and celebrated it with everybody. The invitation to her party came to me addressed Mary O'Summerlin. And so I'd like to pass the tradition on to you Marcia O'Mayo.
Happy St. Pat's to you.
Erin Go Braghless! You really make me giggle, so clever.
Have one of those green beers for me...or not. That's got to involve artificial food coloring.
and green teeth
Actually, I like the idea of a St Patricia's Day. Most female saints days are in memory of misery, suffering, torture, duty, obedience; none of which greatly appeal to me.
The next time you throw a party for St Pat, count me in.
Happy St. Patricia's Day to you too Marcia. I think back to my single mother days and wonder how it all worked out. Just charged in, stumbled, succeeded, messed up, fixed it. Sounds exhausting now.
Wow, I can identify with this. I too went on my own years ago. I look back now and think I was either brave or guiless or both. I suppose that is why they send young people to the front in battle, they are too innocent to realize the danger they are in.
I watched "Where the Boys Are" the other night and it almost made me sick. Women sure got the wrong end of everything back then. Things are only slightly better now. I watch my granddaughters grow to womanhood and hold my breath. They read my blog, so I have to watch what I say there. Dianne
Happy St. Patricks day, Marcia, though now it is 1:07 a.m. into the 18th.
"These days I still feel free but often not so brave. I now know too much. However, I do feel a small ocean’s worth of compassion and love for the woman I was back then, a woman who would make quite a few mistakes, but a woman with enough courage (and cluelessness) to get up each morning and put on her shoes and start her day.
I’m still that same woman."
Marcia, you are so beautiful inside and out. May I share this with you - it is just what I need to be reminded of.
With your name being a county in Ireland, I have no doubt you hold the magic of St. Patricia within you.
Yes, I sometimes think of my young woman back there, so brave, so full of possibility and so bloody innocent of the ways of the world.
Here's to all the Patricias, everywhere!
Slainte!
XO
WWW
I like the idea of celebrating the bravery you've shown over the last 20 years. We're all still the child, the young adult, the middle-aged and so on..and the whole point of getting older is to learn the lessons we've encountered along the way. Happy St Patricia's Day - brilliant idea.
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