Today is St. Patrick’s Day. In the past it was a day of politics, green beer, hardboiled eggs, and large gatherings. Since COVID restrictions are still in effect, any gatherings will be of limited attendance and physically distanced. Being on a college campus, I realize that tradition is not so easily dismissed. There will be private gatherings. There will be groups that go to the local watering holes. And yes, there will be the consumption of green beer. I suspect that the beer will be cheap and plentiful since it is not likely to have a long shelf life…
Entering the “way back machine” transports me to 1978 and a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. I was never a drinker. I still don’t drink and have a very low tolerance for alcoholic beverages. One of my dorm-mates and several of her friends invited me to join them for some green beer at the local watering hole. I was not 21 yet. I was a color-in-the-lines kind of kid so I declined. They insisted I come anyway. The place was packed. It was so busy that we literally couldn’t get inside. So we hung out in the little area to the side where they had set up some chairs and tables. A waiter came over and asked us what we wanted. My friends announced, “Green beer for everyone.” Without batting an eye soon there were 6 frothy mugs of green beer on the table. Five of them were gulped down in an instant. My mug sat there. Finally my friend asked if I was going to drink it. I told her I didn’t like beer. She wanted to know if she could have it; and she drained that mug in nearly a single chug. The “designated driver” movement hadn’t been started yet but that soon became my standard role. I was the friend who made sure everyone stayed together and kept any from wandering into the street or walking into signs…
I swore off drinking green beer
But they pushed the pints ever near
Loud I raised my voice
That drink’s not my choice
To which they shouted hear, hear!
A little limerick in honor of the day. I hate writing limericks, and drinking beer. But I did wear green today!
A Different Perspective 
lol I also loathe beer in any colour!
Didn’t wear green
cos it’s so obscene
was always the designated driver … allowed me access to their car the next day when they wear drying out 🙂 I only had a motorbike …
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I rarely go out to any bars so never have to worry about being the DD. I have lots of green – it compliments my red hair…
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In the outback we had many functions to attend, a cops farewell, a huge gambling night to fundraise for charity, etc. The solicitors used to designate me … would have been poor form if they got caught drink driving! Mind you I think the gambling was illegal in those days too but the magistrates and judges attended also 🙂
yes it’s what I used to wear when I hennaed my hair!
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Sounds like quite the interesting time! For many years gambling was illegal with the exception of doing a fundraiser for a charitable organization… lots of church bingo nights and such. Perhaps it was the same there?
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indeed it was, poker machines and casinos are legal now raising big bucks for govt and charity but still make massive profit! Many of the ‘games’ we had like roulette, two up, poker, etc are still illegal.
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The state made gambling legal and they sell lots of lottery tickets supposedly to fund education and roads… But that just hasn’t worked out. 😦
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ah yes lottery tickets dwindled our inheritance .. my mother was addicted and she lost thousands each year! But her money to waste 🙂
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Too many play the lottery who can’t afford to lose anything! Same with the casinos, they seem to attract the people with hardly 2 nickel’s to rub together…
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oh Mum could afford it but she always dreamt of the big win and she seldom even got her money back …
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Yep. That’s how gambling works!
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they just don’t get the odds are so slim …
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The mantra at my house is “Your odds of winning are the same if you buy a ticket or you don’t”!
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🙂 only ever brought scratchies for a cousin and mother who love those things …
I’m a rambler not a gambler
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I like that – “I’m a rambler not a gambler”! At the Christmas gift exchange one was a stack of $1 scratch-offs ($20 worth) I’m very glad I didn’t get that one as I’d rather just have the $20 and spend it on something useful!
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me too but when you already have everything you need and that is one of your few joys …
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I understand. Sadly most who “play” can’t afford to lose the money.
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yse I’m sure the ones needing the big win 😦
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It is sad…
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You’ve reminded me to stay away from the downtown area. This is not really a problem. I hadn’t intended to go anywhere today anyhow, but now my disinterest is redoubled.
I can probably manage to wear green. It is my favorite color.
You might enjoy this. For art this month, I plan to celebrate Women’s Month. I was looking for an Irish artist for today upon the Spawn’s suggestion. I found a Jewish Russian who immigrated to Scotland who also happened to write at least one poem in limerick form.
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I have lots of green clothes too as it is “my color”. On St. Patrick’s Day everyone is Irish! As for the limerick I think someone described it as the dad joke of poetry…
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Thank you, I LOVE limericks as much as I dislike beer of any color. I think that people who like to drink to impairment and encourage others to do so, need an excuse (or permission) to allow their natural personality to flourish. I, who have a very porous filter, need no such encouragement. I suspect you are comfortable in your skin even when you appear prudent to your friends.
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Thanks Judy. I am about as fond of limericks as I am of beer, which is to say I don’t like either one. I wrote the limerick because it is Lent after all and one must do a penance every now and again. I have a very good filter and am very comfortable being me – I’ve had lots of practice!
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I’m not a beer drinker either… at college parties, I accepted it, then discreetly dumped it down the sink or watered the plants. LOL. Nice limerick! 🙂
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Hehe! I’d end up with a glass and someone would walk by and I’d simply save them a trip to the keg. Of course after awhile people recognized I didn’t drink and they’d offer me a soda (usually). Glad you liked the limerick!
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Loving the limerick; perfect for this day.
Some Irish in my blood (mother’s maiden name: Collins) so, hello, I AM wearing green. Might be time to put on the bit of Irish music that I have here, too.
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Hehe! I’m pleased you enjoyed the limerick (they are a pain to write and I rarely do but this was an occasion). I’m a melting pot but my mother is half-ish Irish and half German. My father was a little of everything. Oh! Irish music? Like U2 or The Pogues?
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Neat to know your ancestry. (yes on U2. also Enya, Noirin Ni Riain, and Maire Brennan-chrisian celtic.
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The Irish is the source of my red hair… My mother introduced me to the group Celtic Woman – love the violinist as well as the vocalists!
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I’m not a heavy beer drinker because I’m not a fan of carbonation. I like my mixed drinks though.
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Beer is just nasty… But then again I don’t like any alcohol! A couple sips and I’m asleep!!
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I was always wondering why people drink so much at St Patrick’s Day !
Love <
Michel
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It is a mystery to me too. Usually (in non-pandemic times) it is a big political hoopla where politicians will buy drinks for anyone and possible persuade some to vote for them…
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I’m thinking the title is quite apropos–for those who do imbibe the flowing green brew, the next morning they might be looking a tad greenish themselves!
Good on you for being the one with a cool head on your shoulders. You probably saved your friends from many a worse fate than just a hang over the next day.
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Hey! Thanks for the visit and comment! I have never had a hangover (because I’ve never been drunk) but I’ve seen quite a few friends, especially in college, looking quite rough the day after. As a whole my friends were level headed and there weren’t too many times when I had to steer them home.
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Avoid $1.00 beer night at any American sporting event if you want to avoid occasions of rampant over-drinking then. And the projectile vomiting that tends to accompany such events. (Sorry, memories are surging I’d really like to suppress.)
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Hehe! I’ve been to college football games where there was no beer sold and there were still drunks tossing their cookies… You’ve got to love the tailgater (not)!
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I forgot today was SPD. Had to go to the hospital for a short while and I saw every tom dick and harriet wearing green! I had on a yellow shirt and maroon slacks and jacket!! Color coordinated I am not!
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I went to work this morning and wore green but the uniforms are all blue… Several were wearing green headbands or green jewelry. If anyone were to call me out I’d just declare green underwear!
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So you are back at the hospital working Val? I thought you had decided to tell them you couldn’t sub! All the best in whatever you do.
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Thanks Zakiah. I am doing a study for a researcher that is about 35 days long. After that I’m going to train a Veterinary Technician to perform a few technical procedures. Probably will take me about a 12-20 hours depending on how fast she picks it up. I won’t be going back to doing compliance or any of the other stuff. And they are paying me really well. And of course if they try to make things difficult, I can just walk away.
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I had a friend in college who partied hard. She would call me for rides when safe ride was not running. One time she asked me to give her a ride to her car. Ten bars and three notorious party houses later we found it. She fell pregnant not long after that and she set her partying ways behind and is a wonderful mother of three now.
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I love a happy ending… Glad she survived her wild days. Hope she has no regrets!
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No her getting pregnant lead her down a better path and she met her husband she has been married to nine years. He adopted the baby and they have two more kids.
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That’s a wonderful thing! So glad she found happiness and obviously true love!!
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Yes. It turned out better than anyone would have thought
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🙂
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I’m not a fan of beer either, but I used to enjoy the green (vanilla) milkshakes that McDonald’s had for St. Patrick’s day. I haven’t been to a McDonald’s in years, but it was considered a treat in my youth!
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I’m not a huge fan of milkshakes but McDonald’s still trots out the “Shamrock” shake every March. I have to confess I’ve never tried one – I always thought they were mint flavor!
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Never a beer lover but a Kilian’s Red or a Honey Brown was something I could nurse for at least an hour. And like you I was always the DD. Don’t drink anything now. We use to have a little wine now and then. And when we went out 30 yrs ago I preferred a gin and tonic. Love your posts. Keep spreading the joy. May the saddest day of your future be no worse than the happiest day of your past. CHEERS
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Thanks Joe!! I love the blessing/toast. I intend to continue doing what I’m doing…
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Thanks Joe!! I love the blessing/toast. I intend to continue doing what I’m doing…
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I can’t even stand the smell of beer. I did manage to wear green but in a darker shade and very limited. Though it’s my favorite color, I have been little clothes that are green.
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I always equate the smell of beer to bathrooms… and green is my favorite color too!
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I liked beer way to much, as a teen and twenty-something. I realized what alcohol was doing to me, right about the time I met Penny. Being a Baha’i just codifies my abstinence.
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I don’t drink and never had the desire… I tried to experiment but it was a failure. Glad you saw the light!
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