I have always enjoyed hearing stories that my mother tells about how they used to celebrate St. Patrick's day in her house when she was growing up.  You see, my maternal great-grandmother was Irish and she helped my grandmother raise my mother and her siblings.  Every single year, she made sure that St. Patrick's Day was a special day in their home.      The first thing that she would do, according to Mom, is take her unique St. Patty's lapel pins out from the china closet so all of the kids could wear them to school.  She would also sit them down and tell them stories about the old country which they enjoyed hearing in her Irish accent.  Their favorite part of the whole day was the special meal that Great-Grandma prepared for them of corned beef and cabbage.  It's a tradition that my mother has continued every year since.     St. Patrick's Day is a great holiday because it not only provides us with an excuse to celebrate and be merry with family and friends but … [Read more...]