March Madness

It’s a wonderful time of year here in the lowcountry.  Spring comes early to this latitude, bringing with it green grass, blue skies….and yellow dust.

I’m no stranger to pollen; every April our big southern city is coated in its powdery residue.  But it’s an entirely new experience to begin seeing yellow surfaces as early as Valentine’s Day!  And now, mid-March, it is in full swing.  I have wiped off my keyboard twice just while typing these few sentences!  I suppose I could go inside and avoid the dusting, but the weather is just too nice to be indoors.

Spring isn’t the only exciting thing happening around here.  Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and in this neck of the woods the party has been going strong for about a week!  It’s one of the things I love about this area.  Why celebrate for one day when you can celebrate for five!?  Why have one festival when you can have ten!?  Why watch one sunset when you can watch them all!?  These folks love to celebrate life!

Our St. Patrick’s Day events have included multiple parades in various communities, all complete with the Budweiser Clydesdales!  These “Super Bowl Commercial” stars arrived last week in high-style, aboard their fancy, bright red Big-Rigs.  They are a sight to see before they even disembark and have drawn a crowd everywhere they go.  Even on their off day people were allowed to visit them at their keeping stables.  But today is their grand finale – the Savannah St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

One of the largest in the world, Savannah’s St Patrick’s celebration is one you have to see to believe.  Think Mardi Gras decked out in all green.  Only, the Mardi Gras folks throw their party pre-Lent to get the debauchery out of their systems before heading into the somber season of penance, reflection, and fasting.  Our party falls right in the middle of that season, making it virtually impossible to ever give up beer for lent.  And who can fast knowing that oyster season is so close to being over?!  Penance however comes easy, and is paid by each reveler the morning after the party.  And I am sure all will reflect on these past few days as being totally worth it.

Just like breathing in pollen particles is worth being outside.  And a slightly sunburned nose is worth the hours relaxing on the beach.  Being here and a part of all the fun is just simply worth it.