For the longest time my mom would wake us up on this very day, every year, and give her best Irish accent and say “Top of the morning to ya!” I would find it hilarious because she would love it so much, although I’m not sure what she loved more; talking with the Irish accent or having an excuse to wake us up in such an obnoxious but cute manner. See, for the longest time we thought we had Irish ancestors, then we didn’t and we were Scottish. Then we were a little Irish and Scottish. So, I think that’s where we ended up. Honestly I lost track of how many times we thought we might have been Irish. But on March 17th, aren’t we all Irish? Sure, you can look at that as go out and get plastered and have a whale of time. Or you can look at it as I’m choosing to and consider yourself lucky. When it comes to lottery tickets, raffles, casinos, or even Go Fish, I definitely don’t have the luck of the Irish on my side. But when I look back on my life and where I am now, I can confidently say I hit the jackpot when it comes to my family, without having to chase a little leprechaun.
I know everyone says they have the best parents in the world and chances are they might. However, my parents….I don’t even know how to describe. They were and are the perfect combination of best friends/parents. They didn’t smother us, but yet we always knew they were there. They pushed us to do our best in everything, but were behind us if we decided it wasn’t for us. What my dad lacked in “book smarts”, my mom made sure she had it covered. What my mom didn’t know about the mean streets of Struthers, my dad let us know about. When I thought I was big and bad and packed the black plastic bags and was ready to leave home because they took my pager from me, they always let me do what I had to do, and then they always let me back. Honestly I never got more than the front door. But I was trying to make a dramatic point. But I was the one that was missing the point. They were and are always going to be there for us. My parents made sure we always had a roof over our heads and clothes on our backs. I know I have said things to the both of them in my childhood days that have hurt their feelings and all I can say now is that I am sorry and thank you for loving me, for loving us, unconditionally.
When I say us, I mean myself and of course my older sister and my younger brother. Let’s be honest, who are the real lucky ones to have such an amazing sister like myself. Without them though, I don’t know where I would be. Cathy paved the way for me. Not only with my parents and in high school, but in life. While she was in high school and I was in about 8th grade there was a divide. I wasn’t allowed at parties she threw at our house when our parents were away and I wasn’t allowed to be with her and her friends basically doing anything. I remember thinking I have the meanest sister in the world, the universe. Why couldn’t I hang out with her? But, as the years went on and we grew up and grew closer, the more I learned and the more I caught on. She wasn’t telling me no because she was mean and because she didn’t love me. She told me no and kicked me out of her parties BECAUSE she loved me. She was protecting me. She was being the big sister. Now we are both grown up, even though I think she hates to admit her little sister isn’t so little. I have to make my own choices and do what is best for me, even if she doesn’t agree. We are two different people and that’s okay. She is more cautious and I’m more carefree. I’m sure we can both learn a lot from each other. Some days I just want her to relax and I’m sure there are days she wishes I would just grow up. But I will always need her, no matter the day, no matter the circumstance. Now Mark, my little brother is something else. I have never been more proud of someone then him. Growing up, he was terrible. I mean I have heard of terrible two’s but this lasted till he was about 12. He gave my parents a run for their money and many babysitters. I would have never imagined he grow up to be the man he is today. He left home for Columbus with his girlfriend at the time, now his wife, shortly after high school and has been making this family proud ever since. He is the smartest man I know, I just want to know why those genes skipped me?! He has lived in different places and taken on so many different jobs that I can’t keep up. He has never settled for less than what he deserves and he deserves the world and so much more. He is always chasing bigger and better things and I have always admired that about him. When I lived in Texas, I can say he and I got a lot closer and I learned a lot about him and the man he has become and I know I don’t tell him all the time, but I truly adore him. It is an honor to be his big sister.
So, maybe tomorrow when you aren’t getting plastered and doing numerous Irish Car Bombs, take a minute and think about the things or people in your life that you are lucky to have or had. I say tomorrow because I have gotten emotional while drinking and I don’t recommend that for anyone. I have a lot of other people that I am lucky for, but I think this was enough reading for the day.
Be lucky. Be blessed. Be careful.
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