Happy Birthday Thoughts

Pop in his kilt

March 18 is my birthday.  Pop and I used to share the same birthday and I always thought how unlucky I was to have to share my special day with my dad.  As I gained a little maturity, I began to look forward to birthdays together and having someone to share in the joy of it with me.  This picture of Pop in his kilt is one of the last pictures I ever took of him.  He died suddenly while on vacation in Wilmington, NC when I was 33 years old.  Birthdays haven't been the same for me since he's been gone.  I light  a candle and play our favorite bagpipe tune in remembrance on our birthday before I celebrate with the family.  I miss him some years more than others but I always feel that little part of my birthday is missing, that part where my dad used to be.  Wherever you are, Pop, I hope you're having all the cake icing you want.  It was your favorite part.  I love you.

Saint Patrick's Day

Here it comes, good old Saint Patrick's Day.  I love that this holiday comes the day before my birthday and that I am a Celt.
Supposedly, the Irish are lucky.  I don't know if I believe that so much.  I mean there was that potato famine and then the Irish in America weren't exactly welcomed with open arms. But hey, we adjusted.  You may be thinking that McNeal is not an Irish name and you would be right...it's Scottish, but our clan started in Ireland with Neal of Nine Stones.  Now there's a name for you.  That's stones not stoned, by the way.  He stole his bride from the Scottish Isle of Barra in the Hebrides, Queen Mave, the "fairy queen."  You may have heard of her in Shakespear's Romeo and Juliet.  
But I digress.
I like that Saint Patrick's Day comes before my birthday because it makes me feel just a bit special.  Besides, I can use it to remember  my birthday when my memory starts to fail.  I may not remember my age (on purpose) but I'll remember the date.
Whatever your heritage, I hope that Saint Patrick's Day will make you feel special and that some of that magical Irish luck will be yours.