A-mhaith a bheith Gaeilge.

Today is one of my favorites, no doubt. Where I grew up it is a day of joyous and somtimes excessive celebration.
As a child of Boston it was shepards pie, corned beef, and green cupcakes all day long. It was being uber careful to make sure my wearing o' the green was plainly visible as to avoid that dreaded pinch.
It was Sister Patricia gently telling my first grade class the true story of St. Patrick. Her version was a tale of hardship, amazing adventure, and indelible faith. It left a mark on my very soul and later in life, when times seemed harsh, it gave me strength.
Even as I grew older and began the more steriotypical practices we Irish have been assigned, I took time to quietly reflect on the man that changed an entire nation and in doing so saved its soul. No weapons, no economic sanctions, just simple and strong faith. Perhaps some of todays leaders could learn from that.
Sitting here now, with the Dubliners playing, I think on some great memories from past St. Patty's.
My first kiss from a girl who used that day to reveal her crush and caused my first blush.
The times in Southie that were crazy nights and occasional drunken fights.
Teaching my children the Unicorn Song and how to be Irish strong.
That night in Portland enjoying the music and on my arm; my beautiful wife.
Ybor City and the crushing crowds, Eric and I so drunk and so loud.
The day in Ayre where the Scot's showed honor for one not theirs.
Cooking and sippin' all day with me son-in-law and learning much along the way.
There are far more memories and some yet to be made. So get out there, learn the music, celebrate a culture that endures. A people that beat the Roman Empire and has since populated the world.
First though, take a moment to reflect on the person who this day honors. Maybe even read up on him, for it is truly an amazing story.
Bí bródúil agus a bheith láidir.
Bí an chreidimh soladach.
Dia libh go léir.

Super

That is the word I usually quietly exhale after reading about yet another congressional stalemate that results in another extension of something we really need to make a decision on.
I see a group of democrats who want their ideology to move us forward with experimental social engineering and economic naivete'. This is countered by republicans desire to move in the exact opposite direction. Not the status quo, but a return to simpler times and less government costs, not realizing that you can never go back.
Put simpler, it is a living demonstration of the immovable object and the irresistable force.
Truth is both groups are partially correct and equally wrong. Add a commander in chief who cannot sway either group into compromise on any issue of significance. This results in us becoming stuck in the quagmire of rhetoric, finger pointing, and the eternal fillibustering we now suffer with.
Remember the super committee? Why did anyone expect a group of politicians made up from a cross section of the extreme views from both parties to produce anything of value? Am I the only one who viewed these compromise incapable party loyalists as a readers digest version of the group causing the problem?
Then when they show up at the table with heads hanging, mumbling, "sorry boss but we just couldn't get 'er done", we act shocked? Why not fire them then? Oh yeah that's right , they are elected officials and not subject to the same consequences for lack of production as the rest of us.
So now we are shopping for the next superman, cause it turns out the current one is far to prone to stumbling into kryptonite laden bombs.
That leads to my next question. If we can be so willing to fire the president, why can't we fire these life long politicians in the houses?
Folks, we do not need superman. No super hero superpowers are going to save us.
We need Batman.
In fact, we need millions of Batmen & women
Here is the rub. We already have a legion of them waiting in the wings. It is made up of folks like you and I. We all have a tool kit laden with the freedom to choose, armored with a free press, the right to assemble, and the freedom of speech. All that and more, buckled together with a ballot.
How often have you heard someone express their frustration with a statement like, " if they worked for me I'd fire the lot of 'em!" News flash folks, they do work for you. You can fire them. Your voice can be heard and your will be done. You just gotta tighten up that tool belt and use it!
So from that perspective I can say this.
I'm Batman
Are you?
Peace y'all.
Ask hard questions & demand real answers.

My Favorite Day

Happy Thanksgiving y'all.
Yes this is my favorite holiday; for many reasons.
It is a day to be grateful and realize how lucky we are.
It the first American holiday, it is ours no one elses.
It marks the beginning of the holiday season, a time when most folks act their best.
The food is awesome.
So today my lovely bride and I are doing something different. We are spending our afternoon with the neighborhood. Yup a large part of our Flats Rats are gathering at the local pub for dinner. This is not some buffet or thanksgiving special. The pub is actually closed to the public. The pool table will be coverd with plywood and that will be covered with dishes from all of us. We will gather,bringing a cornucopia of dishes and sit down together for a feast like no other. Most of us are empty nesters now and our children have moved off this emerald isle, so we will sit together and tell stories, watch football, laugh, maybe cry, and eat.
What children are left with us will run about and be spoiled by the entire neighborhood. Often you hear the saying about a village raising a child. In this neighborhood, we actually do that. We cherish, teach, and watch over the children here and when they grow up and move on we stay in touch. When they return, we rejoice and celebrate. Life is good and I am thankful.
So please, enjoy today for what it is meant to be. A day of grateful celebration. Beat whatever swords you may have into serving platters and feast! Feast on the atmosphere of love and comfort with whatever group you are with. Call and touch base with that old friend, tell your parents, children, and friends that you love them.
Rejoice and celebrate all that is good in your life. Time enough tomorrow to deal with the things that are not.
Peace my friends.
Griff

Veterans Day

When the War is Over

by W.S. Merwin

When the war is over
We will be proud of course the air will be
Good for breathing at last
The water will have been improved the salmon
And the silence of heaven will migrate more perfectly
The dead will think the living are worth it we will know
Who we are
And we will all enlist again

Thank you to all who have served and all those who still do. Many thanks to their families who endure so much so that we remain free.
God Bless you all.
Griff

LOST ?

I am now anyways. Yes I have been lost from the world. Life has a way of getting in the way doesn't it? I have been having some fun. I have also been balancing school and work while trying to maintain a househlod, and be a good parent, husband, and son.
I did get to travel a bit with my son. We went back east to visit family and friends. We experienced triple digit heat, thunderstorms, and something the lower
48'ers call a hurricane.
First stop was Atlanta to visit with family I had not seen in over a year. Got to get reaquainted with some of my grandchildren and daughters.
On a side trip I travelled to Virginia and I would love to thank them for trying to make me feel at home. I woke up every morning to the smell of a campfire as the smoke from the Great Dismal Swamp fire filled the city of Norfolk with a woody haze. Then to top that they even had a genuine earthquake just to make me miss my great state. Now that truly is southern hospitality.
The off to Beantown for some more R&R. I reestablished a relationship with some very dear friends. They were actually my surrogate parents for many years. I apologized to them be being so out of touch for so long. They did not even blink, shoot they just laughed and reminded me that I always had a knack for getting sidetracked. Then they offered up their home to me and my son, whom they had never met.
We had coffe in the morning and dinner at night. Later my son would say, "they act like you never left dad". I reminded him that it was probably beacause in their hearts, I never did.
Then came the "hurricane". By the time it arrived in New England it was just a tropical storm. We battened down hatches and chained things down, then sat back and watched. To me it looked like any day in Kodiak. Rain and blowin' 40-70. We helped clean up and then hit the golf course.
Finally back to good old Kodiak. My son, after meeting so many of the folks I grew up around, now seems to have a better understanding of why I see things as I do. Nothing like a dose of old fashioned yankee thrift and comments to open up a young man's eyes.
One theme popped up every where I stopped.
Atlanta - "Dad you should go back to writing in your blog."
"Daddy are you going to start writing again?"
Virginia - "I heard you had a blog, so I checked it out. Why did you stop?"
Boston - "of course you should start writing again, it's how we know you!"
On the long ride home I realized that I was truly lost in several ways. I had let life steer me down a path to a point that I lost touch with several people who loved me. I had let sorrow take me down a hall to a self induced isolation chamber. I let carreer lead me away from one of the things I truly enjoy.
So yes I was lost, but now I am found.
Thanks to all who searched and waited; and finally brought me home.
I am back. I hope y'all don't mind.
Peace folks, and ask hard questions even if its only to yourself.

REMEMBER

Yes, I have been gone. Perhaps even lost. More on that later.
"We will never forget", has become the rally cry for this day.
I am choosing to say " I will remember".
To me that phrase carries more love and less anger.
So I will remember:
The way the we were before 09/11/2001.
The children that day and how they have grown.
That now they fight in the two wars started that day.
The thousands lost.
The hundreds of heroes lost and the thousands of heroes who responded.
The tears dripping into my coffee as I sat watching the United States be changed
forever that morning.
Lastly I will always remember what this country stands for, was built on, and will
remain.
As long as we all remember.
Peace y'all.

Thankyou All.

No long rants today folks.
For me this is always a day of reflection and celebration.
My thanks to all have ever served our great nation, my gratitude for all who are still serving and protecting us all, and a heartfelt godspeed and bless to all of you about to enter into a life like no other.
So get out there folks, find a veteran and thank them, shake their hand and salute them, for it was their sacrifices that made everything you take for granted today; possible.
Beatus Nostrum Patronus.