Today is St. Patrick\u2019s Day. We always celebrated St. Patrick\u2019s day, but this is the second St. Patrick\u2019s Day without Claire \u2014 no corned beef and cabbage or green beer today. It appears that celebrating St. Patrick\u2019s Day, or any other day, isn\u2019t the same when you\u2019re grieving \u2014 nothing is.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The day itself commemorates the death of Ireland\u2019s patron saint \u2014 originally it was a religious observation. Of course in recent years its solemnity has mostly been forgotten and the day has turned into a day for people to celebrate their Irish heritage (whether they have one or not.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not that all days aren\u2019t, but holidays are especially hard for me \u2014 experiencing them without Claire is a real downer. I don\u2019t seem to be able to avoid an unwilling resentment toward couples I see enjoying days like this together. My urge is to walk up to them and say, \u201cWhatever you do, don\u2019t take each other for granted \u2014 you\u2019re together. You don\u2019t know how important that is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I absolutely understand when someone says Happy St. Patrick\u2019s Day, or happy this, or happy that. Sure, I want to be happy, but the fact is I\u2019m not. I guess I\u2019d rather hear from people that they\u2019re sure Claire is celebrating the day in Heaven\u2026. for some reason it bothers me that others don\u2019t acknowledge her absence. I think I\u2019d rather hear, \u201cI\u2019m sure you\u2019re missing Claire today. I\u2019m thinking of you,\u201d instead of \u201cHappy (whatever) day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But life goes on and holidays come and go\u2026. and Claire walks beside me every day, unseen, unheard, but always near \u2014 still loved, still missed. I guess, for now, that\u2019s enough.
Happy St. Patrick\u2019s Day.
\u2014 30 \u2014<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Today is St. Patrick\u2019s Day. We always celebrated St. Patrick\u2019s day, but this is the second St. Patrick\u2019s Day without Claire \u2014 no corned beef and cabbage or green beer today. It appears that celebrating St. Patrick\u2019s Day, or any … Continue reading