My sister told me that my niece Katy woke up with a big smile on her face this morning and said "Happy St. Myrna's Day!"My sister added that in addition to the green eggs she made the kids for breakfast (that looked strange but tasted good), Katy is pretty impressed that her braces are half green as well as half pink -- between the green braces and wearing green clothing today, she really can't get pinched! (Colored braces, by the way, are now the thing to have when you're 9 1/2....)
So while I don't think I have a drop of Irish blood in me, growing up we were all Irish by Association as our small town of Clare was named after County Clare, Ireland. The Irish theme is carried out with Irish street names, gift shops bearing lots of clovers and leprechauns, Shamrock Lake, a big St. Patrick's Day festival with a road race and green beer....as well as a "Half Way to St. Patrick's Day" festival that falls annually on September 17th.
My mother's birthday also fell on St. Patrick's Day, which she always dubbed St. Myrna's Day. Between a small town being what it is and my mom being who she was -- everyone knew this. A prominent fixture in Clare is the marquee of the Doherty Hotel, right on McEwan Street, a well known hotel in the midwest that has been run by three generation of Dohertys. For several years, A.J. Doherty would put "Happy St. Myrna's Day" on the hotel marquee in honor of my mother's birthday.
The original birthday princess, my mother loved being social, having fun, and had a true joie de vivre. My father once told me that my mom would get about 40 birthday cards in the mail every year -- "As an adult," he laughed. Everyone in Clare celebrated St. Myrna's Day.
A couple months ago, Greta sent me a thoughtful sympathy card when my Aunt Ruth passed away and added "Just think of the party in heaven for St. Myrna's Day this year!" No doubt, a big one.
Happy St. Myrna's Day everyone!
My mother's birthday also fell on St. Patrick's Day, which she always dubbed St. Myrna's Day. Between a small town being what it is and my mom being who she was -- everyone knew this. A prominent fixture in Clare is the marquee of the Doherty Hotel, right on McEwan Street, a well known hotel in the midwest that has been run by three generation of Dohertys. For several years, A.J. Doherty would put "Happy St. Myrna's Day" on the hotel marquee in honor of my mother's birthday.
The original birthday princess, my mother loved being social, having fun, and had a true joie de vivre. My father once told me that my mom would get about 40 birthday cards in the mail every year -- "As an adult," he laughed. Everyone in Clare celebrated St. Myrna's Day.
A couple months ago, Greta sent me a thoughtful sympathy card when my Aunt Ruth passed away and added "Just think of the party in heaven for St. Myrna's Day this year!" No doubt, a big one.
Happy St. Myrna's Day everyone!
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