This One's for Daddy

So much of what I've written over the past year has focused on Mommy and our relationship, but today is Daddy's Day. He loved St. Patrick's Day, and used to send countdown emails to any one "lucky" enough to be on his distribution list. Truthfully, everyone looked forward to the emails. They would come monthly, then weekly, then finally daily, complete with pictures, bits of Irish history, song lyrics, you name it. St. Patrick's Day was a season, just like Christmas. The house would be decorated, the flag would be out for the whole month before. We'd go to the Annunciation Parish celebration, with music, mass, then the young kids dancing in the school gym, complete with corned beef sandwiches. Usually the next day was the Yonkers parade, which was always fun. But the best part was going to Rory's afterward. On the day itself, we sometimes went to the parade, and sometimes watched it at home. One year, Dad and I went for lunch at Rory's and then Mom met us after school. Another year, he met me down at US Trust and we went to the Pig and Whistle for lunch. My cousin Anthony was working there at the time, and he joined us. Then, we went back to work and Dad went to see the parade, and ended up marching with the Clare contingent.

Maybe the most memorable parade was the 2002 parade. The city was still recovering from the 9/11 attacks, and it was a very moving parade. The moment I will never forget was when the firefighters, carrying 343 American flags, turned and faced south on Fifth Avenue, observing 2 minutes of silence for the fallen of 9/11. There wasn't a dry eye all up and down Fifth Avenue. That was the last time I went to the parade with Daddy. I was either working, or living in Mexico during subsequent St. Patrick's Days. But, for his last St. Patrick's Day (the one when I was in Mexico), he and Mommy met our cousins, the Goldings and DiFalcos, in the City and marched with them for a short time. I remember getting an email from one of my cousins from the parade route. I know how special it was for Daddy, and I only wish I could have shared it with him.

After he died, some people asked if I would continue his countdown, but it didn't seem right. That was his thing. But, today I did send an email, and included a link to a youtube clip of his favorite Irish song, "A Nation Once Again." It reminded me of his funeral, actually, but not in a bad way. At the graveside, we all sang the song, and I remember my Uncle Tony commenting, "Only Joe Cleary could get a bunch of Puerto Ricans to sing an Irish song." But that said everything about my dad, and my family. You wouldn't think an Irish-American guy and a Puerto Rican family would blend so well, but Daddy was welcomed in to the family so fully, that it was like he had always been one of them. He was even the one to do the eulogy when Mama passed away. He was as much her son as any of my 7 Uncles.

I think about both Mommy and Daddy every day, but some days it's more potent, and this is one of them. They had amazing weather in NY, so he would have definitely gone to the parade, and right about now, he'd be getting ready for Pete Smith's party. But, he's not, and I'm living in a country that, let's face it, doesn't really mark this holiday! Oh, well, there's always next year in NY. And, I'm happy to celebrate this year with the knowledge that I have received my Irish citizenship - Daddy would love that!