Putting Green Dye in the Chicago River on St Patrick’s Day
St Pat’s is a BIG DEAL here in Chicago. The city has two parades to celebrate the occasion and they even dye the Chicago River green. Not just green, electric green. It seems to glow. This photo doesn’t do it justice.
It was even a bigger deal in our family because my parents were married on St. Patrick’s Day in 1943. My Dad had just completed basic training and came home before being shipped off to England where he served with the US Eighth Air Force as a paymaster. Catholics couldn’t get married during Lent, but an exception was made for St. Pats. As a result, my Dad never had to worry about forgetting his anniversary.
We like to celebrate with my wonderful cousins on the South Side. Janet has promised to make Irish Soda Bread. We might even lift a glass or two to the Emerald Isle!
May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. And may you be in Heaven a half an hour before the Devil knows you’re dead.
