When you work ship-side, there’s not really such a thing as a ‘quiet’ holiday. Back when I lived a shore-bound life, St Patrick’s Day in our house was much like it probably is in Ireland. When I was just a wee one we used to decorate for it, mostly because my Gran always had and because I was a huge fan of any kind of decorations when I was a kid, but as I got older it became just another day in red on the calendar. I’d remember to wear green so that no one pinched me at school – but inwardly, I think the actual Irish blood I carry faint traces of rebelled at the sight of everyone and anyone sporting shamrocks and brazen buttons that boldly declared ‘Kiss me I’m Irish’…when it was quite blatantly obvious that they weren’t.
I’m strange that way I suppose.
That said, once you’re out here? The rules change, and the wearin’ o’ the green goes back to becoming an excuse for the guests to have a shamrock laden party. And well…what a party it was truth be told.
Let’s just say this: I make a damn cute leprechaun.
I was ever so slightly nervous when I was first handed the outfit. I mean for the past three seasons I’ve gotten away with wearing nothing more ‘costume’ like than my pale green oriental cocktail dress. Pair that with green jewelry and gold shoes and it works just fine. This year though? I walked into the office to see a small ocean of green sequins in the form of the jackets we had been loaned from the dining room department. Delving into the bottom of the stack I managed to emerge with one of what I swear was only three smalls, and was delighted to find that not only did it fit…it looked…good. The dark green of the ridiculously glitzy jacket contrasted with the pale green of the dress and looked almost as if I’d matched them together on purpose. I took one look at the bowties (white with green letting that did proudly declare ‘Kiss me: I’m Irish”), shook my head and, with the careful use of a few properly placed bobbypins, transformed it from bowtie to hair-decoration. By the end of a half hour of pre-time I felt rather like I should be passing out Lucky Charms cereal but it did come together well.
Though I was invited to take part in the Irish Pub crawl, my work schedule meant I had to decline. I did however, traipse up to the upstairs lounge for the after party, where I joined my equally leprechaun-like colleagues to dance, clink glasses, and allow the guests to take crazy photographs of us.
This job…sometimes I just have to do the strangest things for this job!
At least they let me keep the bow!
pics?