Lucky the Leprechaun on Ocracoke

St. Patrick’s Day!

Yes, this began as a day to celebrate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, whose story is not totally clear. Some of the tales about him are simply that; apparently, for example, he did not drive all the snakes out of the country. He was a Christian missionary and bishop. In the US, however, March 17 is a day for fun and frivolity!

Before leaving home for the day’s festivities, Lucky posed in front of the Sea Treasure tree at home.

The day really got started with Lucky teaching a little math for our half-day of school. Besides teaching her own classes, she visited all the little ones in the pre-K through 5th grades. They had lots of stories to share, and I had to confess to some family members who have been known to cause some trouble– turning chairs upside down, messing up papers, sprinkling glitter. A couple of precocious first-graders informed me that I was far too tall (“You are only supposed to be as big as my thumb!”) I told them I was “overgrown,” but should have said I was big for my age! Never having been told I was too tall for anything, I took this as an added bonus to the fun I was having!

When school was dismissed, Lucky took time to go to the post office, visit the lighthouse, and pick up lunch at Eduardo’s Taco Stand (Leprechauns enjoy many ethnic foods; one can only eat so much corned beef!) After that there were two walks on the beach, with a quick stop at the first home baseball game of the season followed by the second annual Ocracoke St. Patrick’s Day parade. The spirit was great! Last year’s inaugural parade only had four participants and there were at least a dozen this year. Reluctantly I took the golf cart and joined in the caravan. I had planned to just watch; after all, you don’t get candy if you are actually in the parade!

My post-parade walk was topped off with the prize of a whole sand dollar just before I turned to head back to the car. The sun was setting, so Lucky headed for the best spot on the island and pressed a kind stranger into service for the photo since her phone had died. Then it was home for the evening for a tired little leprechaun!