Sense on Cents

Happy St. Paddy’s Day!

In the spirit of spreading a little Irish cheer and Irish culture, I thought the following peek into a typical Irish family would be appropriate. Enjoy!!

Slainte!

What it means to be in an Irish family…with edits for my personal experience growing up as one of eight children (seven boys, one girl) in a great Irish Catholic family in Boston!!

1) You will never play professional basketball.
Basketball dreams ended for us in middle school.

2) You swear often and very well.
A Doyle favorite curse was typically relegated to “God-damnit, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph…”

3) At least someone in your extended family is a fireman, cop, bar owner or funeral home director, and you may have at least one aunt who is a nun or uncle who’s a priest.
Yes….

4) You think you sing very well. Also, you may not know the words to many songs, but that doesn’t stop you from singing…usually very loud.
All the time, especially in church!!

5) You have no idea how to make a long story short.  In fact, you wouldn’t even consider trying.
Never a problem, speaking for yours truly and my brothers.

6) Many of your childhood meals were boiled and included potatoes.
Mom’s favorite casseroles and stews were loaded with spuds!!

7) You’re strangely poetic after a few drinks.
Especially my brothers, uncles, and cousins!!

8) Some punches directed at you are from legacies of past generations.
All the time!! The Doyles are firm believers in “don’t get mad, get even!!”

9) Many in your extended family are named Mary, Catherine, Pat or Eileen and there is likely at least one member of your extended family with the full name of Mary Catherine.
With upwards of 60 direct relations, we have these covered.

10) Someone in your family is very generous. More than likely, you think it’s you.
….also the best looking!!

11) You don’t wait for the other guy to stop talking before you start talking.
No doubt. We are firm believers that if we wanted somebody’s opinion, then we’d give it to him!!

12) You’re not nearly as funny as you think you are, but what you may lack in talent you make up for in frequency.
Story of my life!!

13) There wasn’t a huge difference between your last wake and your last keg party.
As an 11-year old, I can remember as if it were yesterday the wake for my legendary grandfather held in his home . It was flowing.

14) You are, or know someone, named Murph.
More than one!!

15) If you don’t know Murph then you know a Mac. If you don’t know Murph or Mac, then you know a Sully. You may even know a Sully McMurphy.
Many of all of the above!

16) Your skin’s ability to tan is greatly limited.  A tan for you is a shade of red or pink, which turns less red or pink once you peel.
Why do you think so many Irish are nicknamed Red?

17) Childhood remedies for the common cold may have included some form of whiskey.
Not that I was aware but…

18) You’ve never left a family party without saying goodbye for at least 45 minutes.
Also very true…

19) At this very moment, you have at least two relatives who are not speaking to each other. Not necessarily fighting, mind you, just not speaking to each other.
The Irish are notorious for the “deep freeze.”

Enjoy the day!!

LD

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 at 11:36 AM and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.