Saint Patrick's Day Parade!

Today is the Stamford St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  I have always absolutely loved St. Patrick’s Day.  I think one of the reasons I have such fond memories of celebrating this day is because of my dad.  For as long as I can remember my dad has been involved in running one parade or another in the month of March. 

 

When I was much younger, my dad was somewhat involved in the Yonkers St. Patrick’s Day Parade.  The only thing I really remember about parade days was that my mom would get my sister and I all dressed up.  We would wear big wool sweaters and our hair would be up in pigtails with yards of green and white ribbon tied neatly into bows.  Then, we would meet my dad’s family at a predetermined spot and wave and cheer in anticipation for him to walk by with his shillelagh.

When we would finally see him turn the street corner with the Sons of St. Patrick, the cheering and clapping would get that much louder.  Every year, he would stop to take a picture with us and then take my sister and I to finish walking the rest of the parade route with him.  Walking next to my dad in the parade always made me feel so special.  The crowds of people would cheer and wave and sometimes my dad would even carry me on his shoulders.  After years of doing this, it is a feeling that I will never forget.

Today I will not be marching with my dad.  Sometime around middle school I got a little too embarrassed for it. Even though I have, on occasion, jumped in midway through with some of my friends, this year I will be clapping for my dad from the sidelines as he walks by with his shillelagh.