There once was a bus decorated in green
Filled with the happiest people you’ve ever seen
Sisters and Residents joyously greeting
Parade spectators that they were meeting
St. Patrick himself would’ve been proud of the scene.
On Saturday, March 14 it was the luck of the Irish and the help of St. Patrick as an unseasonably warm, sunny day materialized. We donned our best green clothing and Irish accessories and headed for the pot of gold on our ‘Irish decorated’ bus. Filled to capacity, we drove to take our spot at the Palatine St. Patrick’s Day Parade and helped ‘paint the town green’.
We were enthusiastically greeted all along the parade route. It was a sea of green as the festively dressed crowd lined the streets. Not to be left out, even the dogs accompanying the spectators sported green scarves and collars.
Grand Marshals Lucky McClover and Katie M’Lady led the parade, as beautiful Irish music played expertly by the Midlothian Scottish Bag Pipe Band echoed throughout the streets. On our bus, several voices joined in to a chorus of Danny Boy and there was a tear in many a proud Irish eye –and there were many, as everyone was Irish that day…
Filled with our share of ‘a Bit O’ Wit and a Bit O’ Blarney’, we headed home. Our arms were a little sore from waving and our voices a little hoarse from singing, but we were happy to be ‘Irish’ and celebrate with our Palatine community.
Erin go Bragh