You can have a day off on me.

You can have a day off on me.

Even in advancing years, I find it easy to give meself approval to act up a little for this special, once a year, day that is with us gain tomorrow.

I am reminded of my heritage, passed through my father and mother, of the devotion and celebration to the mid-March Day, often a respite in Lent, of our rivalry with our "Orange" neighbors as we flaunted "the Green". By some strange Aussie quirk we managed to share their part on Orange Day as well}.

Long gone the nostalgic family concerta with "When Irish Eyes are Smiling", and "I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen" with corn Meat, cabbage and potatoes, with damper replacing soda bread. Long gone these hard-woring Irish who had chosen the sugar industry of Queensland, Australia their home and labour.

I think of my departed parents who had St Patrick' Day for their wedding, my father on brief leave  from years in North Aftica. As a soldier, he left a mere 10 days later for the New guinea -Borneo Campaign. I was six months old when they were re-united.

Whatever the Day holds for you, may it include memories and traditions that cling.

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