Happy St Patrick's Day

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Today many of us will be cooking corned beef and cabbage, with little red potatos, and carrots. A meal that I happen to love even though I am not Irish...If I drank I would have a Guiness or just some green beer, but since I don't maybe some green Koolaid will do. When the girls were little, I would make them everything green to eat on ST. Pats' day. Green jello, green rice (white rice with food coloring) and chocolate chip mint milkshakes....they would squeal with delight at the green food and to this day remind me of days long ago that they had green treats. One day I hope I will have grandchildren and do the same for them....make little things that will be etched in their memories of silly days and fun. Long ago in the town I live in the bars would have a tug of war in the field near Spaans Cookies. Someone....would paint the yellow line on the street green. No one knew who did it.....but it was always there. There would be potty chair races from the local bars that no longer exist.....Like the 411 club, The Pizza Bank and Arlin's Pizza. Those buildings sit empty now or have been replaced by other businesses. Sonnyboy, a local legend and resident would wear his leprechaun outfit and be the Mayor for the day. How life in our town has changed.....our sleepy little town has grown so much, the St. Patrick Day events are long gone....I guess I am old because I remember those days....I wonder if the people who have moved to our town have any idea on what were the town's traditions......now talk of multiplex theathre and more coffee shops exist. The freeway divides the new part of the town and old town. In the old days we had Fifes department store where the Fife family ran the business and sold things like you would find in the five and dimes stores. The welfare building was the movie house, and Harvest church was the bowling alley. Shopping Kart, Marvel Store and Galt Super were the only grocery stores and they had in store credit, where you just signed your name and paid your grocery bill at the end of the month. The old Galt Pharmacy had a ice cream fountain and sold Kotex wrapped in brown paper bags so not to offend the delicate eyes. Everyone knew everyone, so you were never asked for ID when writing a check.

The old days are gone.....wonder what St. Patrick's Day will be in Future.....Wonder what our town will be like....I will drive by today and see if anyone painted the street green....I hope they did.