I must weigh my words carefully in this post lest they be misunderstood by those whom I hold dear.  I am not opposed to wearing green on St. Patty’s Day, but I confess to wondering if that is the best way to honor the patron saint of Ireland.

Allow me first to establish my credentials.  I am Irish — at least a 7th-generation Irish.  My great, great, great, great grandfather arrived on American soil in 1767, having departed his family home in Londonderry, Ireland.  True, I have yet to kiss the Blarney Stone, nor have I ever drank a pint of Guinness, but I am Catholic, and I married an Irish lass, whose name is Patrice, a European form of Patrick. She believes Ireland is the closest thing to heaven on earth.  When I recently suggested we downsize and move, I was thinking of a smaller home; she was thinking of a smaller country.  The Emerald Isle being one, if not the only consideration.

Today being St. Patrick’s Day, she reminded me that it is also her “Name Day.”  Being named after St. Patrick, Patrice recalled how her family tradition placed a higher priority on celebrating March 17th as her Name Day over her birthday in May.  Given the significance of this day in her life, and the likely possibility she is a descendant of leprechauns, she suggested — though the words sounded more demanding than a suggestion — that I wear something green today or risk being pinched. I smiled as if to ask if that was a bad thing? She gave me the look of the Irish, and I knew I should start looking for something green to wear.  Unfortunately, green is not my color, and I had to scrounge to find anything in a greenish hue.  Alas, a lapel pin will have to do.

Unwilling to let this “green” thing go, I argued that maybe wearing green was not the best way to honor this saint.  Yes, today there will be parades, parties, and people wearing green costumes to celebrate this feast day, but wouldn’t St. Patrick prefer we live a life worthy of his calling every day rather than drinking a gallon of Guinness every March 17th?

St. Patrick was many things — an atheist, an Englishman, a slave, and a sheep herder — who, far, far away from home, prayed, heard from the Lord —found his way to Ireland, went into ministry, baptized over 120,000 Irishmen, and planted over 300 churches.  That is the real St. Patrick.

Being such a proliferate church builder may also explain why he is the patron saint of Engineers. When I mentioned that fact to my wife, and suggested that since I am a “Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech and a heckuva of an Engineer” maybe wearing the white and gold of my alma mater would be a better way to honor the patron saint of Engineers. She shook her head and suggested she might move to Ireland by herself if she heard any further nonsense like that.

So, excuse me while I go looking for something green to wear.  Being pinched is the least of my worries.