A Sweet St. Patrick's Day Memory (and a Small Reminder to Make Life Fun)

March 18, 2019

Me and my sister in Ireland (nothing to do with the story, aside from it being Irish)
It's no secret to those who know me (or read this blog) that holidays are, and always have been, a big deal to me and my family. While some are celebrated with an almost embarrassing level of enthusiasm (lookin' at you, Christmas, Halloween and Thanksgiving), the smaller ones still got plenty of attention - and St. Patrick's Day was no exception.

When my sister and I were little girls living in the blissful, innocent world that consisted of believing in Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy (were those not the most precious days?) our parents did everything they could to match our excitement and imagination with evidence. 

Enter the leprechauns.

Yes, even on St. Patrick's Day - and even in our Cuban-American household - our mom and dad had a plan to prove to us that the magic of the leprechauns was real. It was a tiny effort that filled us with giddiness and still makes me smile almost two decades later: every morning on this day, we'd wake up to discover that the gallon of milk in our fridge and the water in our toilet bowls were turned green. The leprechauns had invaded our home, and no, the thought that our parents always had green food coloring in our kitchen cabinets never crossed our minds. That, my friends, is the beauty of childhood.

It may have been silly, but looking back, it definitely made the holiday more special. More importantly, it was a reminder that even the simplest, low-lift effort can yield sweet, unforgettable memories.

Life is short. Have fun with it. :)