I went to an Alehouse, i used to frequent

 I told the landlady my money was spent

I ask her for credit, she answered me nay

Such a custom as yours I can have any day (Dubliners)

the older we get , the more Saint Patricks' Day morphs from a wonderful celebration to a day of sad remembrance.......the Giants of March 17th have all moved on......long gone are the childhood shenanigans, the great gatherings of family in fine spirits and all the comradery that followed. But just like Tim Finnegan we find the will to rise and shine.....for the Whiskey and the Beer still need to be drunk.....that bottle of Jamesons won't drink itself......the hardened stoic race of people that the Irish are, we bury those feelings and raise a glass or two many. Today thousands will march in NYC for the first time since the china flu....millions will belly up to the respective bar and slake their thirst with pint of Stoudt....we will sing the songs and quietly think of the family and friends that aren't here, and we'll drink another round for them for fucks' sake. 

We shall eat the corned beef....although the symbol of immigrant Irish/America  has nothing to do with the traditions or cuisine of the country of Ireland. The Irish found themselves in an unloving british settlement of the new world 1762....before America declared her independence......work was scarce (irish need not apply) . they were broke and they missed home .....the cheapest cut of meat was the corned beef.....so they bought in bulk and adopted it as their own, washed it down with Beer and MARCHED.......they Fucking marched right up the dirt road that was 5th Ave in NYC and paid homage to the Patron Saint of the Catholic Church....SAINT PATRICK......and 260 years later .....they'll do it again.....no race has ever overcome so much , so fast; they came to the country unwanted and within a generation they were running the fucking show. The joined the military and created the Police and Fire Depts....all they asked for was a hand up...not a hand out. We owe our ancestors a great deal of thanks for showing the way....just roll up your sleeves and get to work...for this is still the land of opportunity for those "willing" to put in the time.

so today we walk the tightrope.....try to balance the feeling of loss, while still celebrating that legacy.....i'll raise my share of glasses and hopefully find my way home safe and sound before the Moon begins to rise.......Slainte' to All....Top of the Morning.....time to raise a glass

I brought from me pocket ten sovereigns bright

And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight

She said:'I have whiskeys and wines of the best

And the words that you told me were only in jest'

And it's no, nay, never

No, nay never no more

Will I play the wild rover

No never no more