No St. Patrick's Day would be complete without
a few words about me mum, the green-eyed Irish
lass who gave us life, and taught us about it,
too.
Mom left us a few years ago, but never completely.
We used to think that was just a nice, comforting
thing that people said to those who grieve, but it
is more than that. When you truly love someone who
passes, they do stay with you throughout your life.
Mom is with us all, every day, and every time we
hear these words:
"The luck of the Irish..." We are astonished
by our luck sometimes. If it weren't for pure,
dumb luck, we would be hoping to be remembered
by those who survived us.
"Don't get my Irish up." Those who know us
know we're small, but feisty. What is it about
the Irish, that make them so stubborn, and so quick
to stand up to overwhelming odds and powerful opponents ?
Maybe it's an island thing, people who live on islands
are used to having the odds against them, and winning.
"Top o' the mornin to you !" Most of all, the
Irish are noted for their cheerful dispositions. No
matter what problems we face, we should face them
with confidence. We should have as much faith in our
own ability as we have respect for those who have
come before us, the writers, soldiers, train-men and
farmers who looked adversity square in the eye and
rose to the challenge.
Our mother's Irish eyes were always smiling, and we
know they smile upon us now, as we publish another
issue, our forty-ninth, as the road is, indeed,
rising up to meet us. Happy St. Patrick's Day, Mom.
March 17, 1996 Charles Paparella The Shore Journal
Just what county are the PAPARELLA'S from, cp ?