St. Patrick’s Day

The shamrock is the national flower of Ireland and it is said that St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, used it to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagans irrevocably linking these two very Irish symbols. It is believed that St. Patrick died on March 17th that’s why St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on this day. March 17th also is the traditional day to offer prayers for missionaries worldwide before the serious celebrating begins.



Being a religious holiday many Irish attend mass, say their prayers and then they go to the pub, to party. Parties and Irish parades are held not only in Ireland but all around the world in celebration of this day. New York City, Chicago and believe it or not Savannah, Georgia all are renown for their St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Where I live we have this Irish Pub called Meg O’Malley’s and you can’t move through the place on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s great, I look forward to it every year. They also host a street party and parade, the green beer flows and Danny Boy can be heard over the din of the crowd.



So as we prepare to celebrate again this year let me leave you with my favorite Irish blessing - “May you be in heaven half an hour before the Devil knows you’re dead.“

Valentine’s Day

Love it or hate it, its Valentines Day once again. Saint Valentines Day is named after several early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was first celebrated by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. The holiday was first associated with romantic love by Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages. It’s traditionally a day when lovers express their feelings for each other by giving flowers, candy, and sending greeting cards or "valentines". Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Some people, who don’t like the day, have anti Valentines Day parties wear all black, sit around and trash love and all that has to do with love.



After that historical analysis, allow me to share from my heart.
I’m one of the lucky ones. I feel I have found the one I will truly spend the rest of my life with. My lover and best friend, the person I want to be with last at night and first thing in the morning; someone who is kind, loving, supportive, has a great sense of humor and is fun to be with. Thanks Babe for just being you, I know that sounds cliché but I mean it. You are so wonderful and wonderful to me, this Valentines Day and everyday I hope you know, because I hope I show you, how very much I love you.

The Great American Race

Every year from the end of January and to the middle of February the eyes of the racing world turn toward Daytona Beach, Florida and the beginning of the NASCAR racing season. This year will be the 52nd running of the Daytona 500 also called the Great American Race; you never know what will happen at NASCAR’s biggest, richest and most prestigious race of the year. In 2008 the 50th anniversary race was quite exciting; there were 42 lead changes among 16 drives which was the second highest in NASCAR history; when all the exhausted had settled the winner was Ryan Newman who made a last-lap pass on Tony Stewart to win his first ever Daytona 500. In 2009 at its 51st annual running Matt Kenseth won the race which ended up being called off with 48 laps to go when a severe rainstorm hit the track. Don’t miss the action this year.



The fans here are hardcore, people party in the infield for days before and after this event. The Daytona 500 is at the end of Speed Weeks, two full weeks of racing at the Daytona International Speedway. These weeks are full of races, events and chances for fans to meet and get pictures of and with their favorite drivers. If you’d like to be there in person to catch all the action, which most race fans will tell you is the only way to experience it, be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible because the Daytona 500 is the most coveted ticket in motorsports and has been a sell out since the race was first run in 1959.

The Reason for the Season

I am so distressed by the homogenization of our society. We’ve become so afraid of offending anybody and being ‘politically correct’ that we are letting our traditions fall by the way side. We’ve given up what we value in the name of ‘getting along’ and I think it’s no more apparent than at this time of year. It’s awful that you get a look if you wish someone a Merry Christmas, or told “Oh you shouldn’t say that.” Well why not? If that’s your tradition and if that’s what you mean. If you’re Jewish, wish them a Happy Hanukkah, if you’re African American then Happy Kwanza.



The point is to do what YOUR tradition dictates, celebrate your reason for the season. We as a society shouldn’t accept someone telling us what is allowable when it comes to our traditions and values. We all talk about peace on earth this time of year, well doesn’t peace on earth start with accepting people for who and what they are instead if trying to make us all the same? We weren’t all made the same for a reason and I think true peace can only be achieved when we not only accept that fact about each other but learn to embrace it. So as a Protestant, Christian I will be celebrating the birth of Christ,therefore allow me to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas and the most prosperous New Year.

Giving Thanks

I don’t know how you all celebrate Thanksgiving but one thing we always did was gather as a family for a huge meal. When we were all seated before the feast we’d go around the table and each of us would say something we were thankful for in the past year. I know in these uncertain times we have more than enough to worry about but this is the time a year to take a break, if only for a day, to count our blessings so allow me to share a few with you. I’m thankful, first and foremost for my family. I have a wonderful spouse, stepdaughter, stepson and son-in-law; my Dad, Mom, sisters and their families are all amazing and I have wonderful in laws. A have a few good friends who are very dear to me, I have my health, a comfortable life and feel truly blessed. So at this time of year I’d just like to say thank you to God and all the amazing people in my life. You know who you are; I could never have gotten this far without you. Thank you, thank you, thank you!