Today the heritage of my family's people will be celebrated by green-wearing, whiskey-drinking, look-at-me-I'm-Irish toting Americans and the like all over this land.
Well whether you're an authentic Gaelic speaker or just a once-a-year-Irish loving fool, I wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day!
This time of year brings back fond memories of my dear grandmother Catherine A. Leitch Tunnell; a feisty, quick-witted Irish lass from Belfast who emigrated to the states in the early 1950's.
In 1955 she married my grandfather, a Midwestern native and together they had my Uncle Kerry, Aunt Eileen, mother Colleen and Aunt Catherine; all carrying forth the Irish legacy in their names.
When I was little my siblings, cousins and I would spend loads of time at my grandparent's house, raking up fall leaves in the front yard, jumping into their bright colors at day's end; helping to clean and tidy things up in the house and simply listening to my grandmother's funny accent.
My Grandma Tunnell was a force to be reckoned with, when she wanted things done a particular way they were done as so. When tidying up in the house, it was often my task to dust off the bookshelf near the front window and after I thought I was done, she would question me with her strong Irish dialect, 'Now did you get the tops of the books like I asked?' I couldn't lie to this woman, she would have seen right through me, so every time I would have to go back and dust the books again, just like so.
A visit to grandma's house always meant a delightful trip into her shiny glass candy dish full of sweet and minty treats. Often times she would also make us buttered toast sprinkled with just the right amount of sugar - it was a simple delicacy that only she knew how to make.
Being the little kids that we were, my siblings, cousins and I would be playing around the house and someone would pass gas - it happens... Well this always got a rise out of my grandmother. Once she got wind of the perpetrator's scent she'd yell, 'Who blasted!?' 'Who bloody blasted!?'
Oh we thought this to be the funniest thing ever! First off we knew that bloody was a bad word in her book and secondly she would just start raging as the Irish often do when they get in a tizzy.
The list of fond memories goes on and on with my dear grandmother and I consider myself ever so fortunate to own such wonderful thoughtful gems. My grandmother passed away when I was in 6th grade to a series of illnesses. She was far too young to depart from us and her memory lives on with me and the rest of my family today and always.
So please enjoy your corned beef and cabbage this day and Erin Go Braugh to you and my dear grandmother.
An Old Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
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ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of when I heard Jalyn's Great Aunt Marie sing in Gaelic at Steve's 50th birthday celebration. Really very lovely...and then she and Steve danced to Free Bird for the next 15 minutes. It was a good party.
ReplyDeleteIt was so lovely to hear of your memories of your Grandmother Catherine from Belfast. How strange for me to be reading what her granddadughter is saying - I who remember her before she went to USA. She seemed tall to me - thin and a really beautifullooking woman as her wedding pictures show. My mother loved her and talked so much of her as a little child - how good natured she was - how willing - what a hard worker she was etc. A much loved niece. But what I remember most and indeed still have some of them was the letters from Indianna filled with endless gossip and photos of her beloved children and then grandchildren. We knew EACH of you in detail - pictures of you in the local town festivals - dressed like pumpkins or whatever - how good you were at math - what books you read and what a deep interest she took in each child. It was Jalyn and Amber and Jed and Shay until I used to get you all mixed up as to who was whose child. Yes here's to Catherine Tunnell nee Leitch - I wish I had known her better.
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