Next season: Matters of the heart

Sorry, but that's what happens in retail. You get all involved in the season at hand, and once handled, on to the next one. Oh, gosh, I really used to get hyped up for Valentine's Day. I didn't get to go to Kindergarten, s0 first grade was my first opportunity to experience it. And I had major loves in first grade. I even remember their names. So Sorry, Nancy Morgan, and Barbara Monchil, and Tanya Estrada, and Michelle Hoegler...Yeah, they were serious back then... I planned their valentines with all the angst that a 6 year old boy could muster. My printing on the backs of those 1959 Hallmark valentine cards was executed with the precision of a brain surgeon. It made for a very fun day. It must have. I still remember their names.

But now, now that I'm an old married man - 33 years, Valentines Day is simply a day to remember to get the ol Hallmark credit card out again. And not to try to be creative to impress the Mrs..."NO!!! Don't waste money on candy, I won't eat it. And DO NOT send me flowers at work!!! They just die. (Well, Duh...)

So remember Valentines Days past. Savor the flavor. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Go raibh míle maith agat! - May you have a thousand good things!!

Getting the Irish Season Kicked off

I have great respect and admiration for the staff of the Kansas City St. Patrick's Day Parade. You can't possibly take in all that they have to accomplish in a year's time. To look at the task of re-creating a wonderful, traditional event with such enthusiasm and creativity every year has to leave them breathless. Yet they do it. Flawlessly, I think. And can you imagine what it takes to coordinate with representatives of the City in every respect and discipline, all Irish groups, all vendors, the police, legal agencies, merchants along the route, the Media, oh God, it's really too much to even think about.

I know a very little bit, I've served in a tiny way as a Hibernian rep to the parade committee. They were so very kind, super fun, and considerate. I liked every member of the committee that I came into contact with. I wished I could have been more helpful. But trust me, they have it all under control.

I took what I learned by observation to my little Lee's Summit Emerald Isle Parade. We do pale in comparison in terms of the sheer number of folks that have to be coordinated with. The size of our parade is tiny in relationship to the "Big Parade." But we do match them in spirit. We run our parade with a small team of 10, all responsible of crosschecking eachother to ensure that all of our work tasks are handled, and creative urges are looked at and either allowed or tabled till next year. We're a small but enthusiastic bunch.

This year the parade will step off at 1:00 as last year, on Saturday, March 14. Hopefully, we will not have the bone-chilling freeze that we shared with the Big Parade last year. It was so cold then that our talent, The Lucky Charms, and Flanigan's Right Hook, could only play for a few minutes of their sets. We really missed out last year. But never say die, we'll have some talent this year too.

Just watch out for us. March 14. The Lees Summit Emerald Isle Parade will step off in style.

Sorry for the absence...we've been in hell for Christmas.

It has certainly been an interesting year. I've turned into one of those folks who, when you make the mistake of saying:" How have you been?" you get more than you really want to hear... Seriously, I hate it when anybody asks me how my Christmas was. Cause I'm gonna give the the shorthand..."It was fine."

We lost my wife's oldest sister in February due to kidney disease. My father - in - law, Mr. Harold Cullum passed away right at Christmas time, making our holiday season quite gloomy. There were 2 empty seats at our Christmas Dinner this year. So, we're just glad that Christmas has gone back into its many many boxes and back into the basement till next year.

On a GREAT upswing, our daughter, Kristin was engaged to Mr. Jim Lynch on Christmas eve. Yes, he's IRISH... and Italian. What a fun party that will be! More on that later!

Meantime, its time for taxes and inventory and ordering for the new year at Doherty & Sullivan's. Its our 5th year. If you haven't been out to see us - SHAME on you!

Happy New Year!