I was very fortunate to be able to take my family to the annual Saint Patrick’s Day parade in Norfolk Virginia yesterday. We all put on all the green clothes we could find as well as green beads and hats we got while we were there.

The parade was awesome and the kids loved it. I had a great time myself as it’s been a while since I have attended a parade. The drums played and the old cars went by as we cheered. It was a wonderful day over all.

Santa made his usual arrival last night and the tree was stacked with presents when we woke up. Everyone opened their presents and we all exchanged comments on the ones we liked the best. Even the stockings over the fireplace were full of chocolates and little surprises that we love.

We now have a fire going and the living room is full of people. We are all relaxing a little before we have to clean up the mess and begin cooking our meal. Turkey is on the menu and I am already starting to get my normal Christmas hunger pains. It has been a good day so far and I am sure that it will only get better.

The first of May is a benchmark for me. May is the start of really nice weather for the beach, there is always a light breeze and a lot of sunny days. Everything is blooming and green.

It seems that every weekend in May has some kind of festival or group activity that I like to attend, especially the Memorial Day Weekend, which is the unofficial start of summer.

If the Easter Bunny doesn’t make it to your house, here’s why:

They say that on St. Patrick’s Day, everyone wants to claim to have a little bit of Irish in their bloodline. I know that I have quite a bit of Irish on my mother’s side, mixed with a little bit of Scottish. Of course, we are German on my father’s side.

I don’t claim to have anything to do with where my ancestors come from or what they did in their lifetime before I was born. But on St. Patrick’s Day I will make claim to the Irish in my blood and will be wearing the green to say so.