Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day looks a lot different for me now than it did back in my early twenties. Knowing that I don’t have nearly enough Irish in my bloodline for me to celebrate the holiday in any actual meaningful or poignant way – I used to just lean into the binge-drinking, green-wearing, parade-hopping and Dropkick Murphys-listening antics that so many of my friends and members of my community were doing in and around Worcester and South Boston leading up to, during, and immediately after the actual holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day was usually a blur back then, concluding with a doozy of a headache and green glitter that was inexplicably everywhere for some reason, and that’s putting it mildly.
These days, having matured enough to realize that my tolerance level isn’t what it used to be and that I should actively be caring for my body instead of trying to murder it by way of my liver, Troy and I opted for a much more quiet holiday together than the ones we’d experienced in our college and heavier partying years.
The day before St. Patrick’s Day, for example, we stopped by Fitzwilly’s in Northampton for a late night dinner and to check our their décor in preparation for their all-day party they’d planned for the holiday. They went all-out this year and the restaurant/bar looked amazing – and their limited/special edition menu that featured things like Irish nachos, Irish empanadas, and stout cake caught my interest!
I had to work yesterday for a while, but after I’d wrapped up for the afternoon, Troy and I each donned a little green and headed over to Gigantic in Easthampton so that Troy could have his annual Guinness and I could have a whiskey sour before we headed back over to Fitzwilly’s to check out the crowd and that aforementioned limited/special menu.
And it was worth it for sure!
And even though I got a little tipsy – just a little! – I’m feeling good this morning. There’s no headache, no green glitter everywhere, and only one weird bruise on my hip that I have no recollection of getting – although I’m sort of clumsy anyway so it could have been from anything, really.
Shout out to everyone we saw celebrating last night respectfully and safely and to all the servers who were in good spirits despite what I’m sure was a very long and very busy day – especially here in Massachusetts! Maybe next year I’ll catch one of the many parades we have throughout the state since it feels like it’s been a while since I’ve attended one!
xo
Coffee & Chiffon 