| Happy Saint Patrick's Day |
 |
 |
 |
| Christ shield me this day; Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie sown, Christ when I arise, Christ in the hearts of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me. ---- "The Breastplate of St. Patrick" |
| St. Patrick's Prayer This day I call to me: God's strength to direct me, God's power to sustain me, God's wisdom to guide, God's vision to light me, God's ear to my hearing, God's word to my speaking, God's hand to uphold me, God's pathway before me, God's shield to protect me, God's legion to save me. ---- From A Retreat with St. Patrick |
 |
| "Leprechauns in Panama" |
 |
| With Saint Patrick's Day on March 17th and many out there being Irish, let me tell you a little story... It is taken from of my most memorable experiences while living and enjoying the good life at the crossroads of world commerce in the heart of the universe. Panama is a place once visited---one will always remember. This little story is about leprechauns. Maybe you have seen these wee little people in your travels or while living in Panama... Leprechauns in Panama. Have you ever wondered while living in Panama, if there were any leprechauns about? Have you? Well, let me say that I did think about leprechauns while living in Panama. Also I strongly believe that there were some of these wee little folks in Panama and throughout the old Canal Zone. The leprechauns as we all know them are the keepers of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbows. Now think about it; with all the rainbows we had in Panama there must have been BOO-KOO of leprechauns in Panama. How you figure? Well, back if it has been a long time since you lived the Panama experience---Panama does have lots of rain! Yes, after a real gully wash that may last 20 to 45 minutes a rainbow would appear like magic. Yes, Mon. Sometimes there would be 2 or 3 rainbows at the same time! Why? Well, this often happens when the After Rain Watch List was garbled in transmission from Ireland to Panama. See...the leprechauns would not know who really had the rainbow duty that day. Now leprechauns really loved the next side with all its rain that a Panama Canal Company town site was renamedd "Rainbow City." Yes, Mon...that is interesting kid but tell me more. But just to keep everybody on the same sheet, the Panagringo Leprechauns were jungle experts. They too had survived the mean, ugly, grrn hill obstacle at Fort Sherman (JOTC). HOORAH!!!!! They had certificates of achievements to prove it! Now on home leave back in Ireland, they would spend most of their free time enjoying a pint at the local pub. Another thing we know for sure is that leprechauns love Irish music and the camaraderie found in the pubs. They would also take turns' giving a devil of a fright to many unsuspecting lovely Colleen or Shiela who bend over backwards to kiss the Blarney Stone. Leprechauns are known for keeping the Chiquita la banana green until you were outside in the Balaboa Panama Canal Company Commissary parking lot. Then all bets were off! Another bit of their handy work was putting the little green M & M candy in the millions of the M & M packages around the world. Making things green is their thing! It is a leprechaun thing! They will do it in a heartbeat! It is like the a few bottle of shampoo found in the old Canal Zone that made many of the kids hair geen...yes indeed. Take the chlorine in the Balboa swimming pool water! You might say no way but then again yes way! Keep in mind that the leprechaun's solemission in life is to make all things green and having fun doing it! You might say, "What about the dry season?" Well, the answer is that most of the leprechauns were on home leave back in Ireland during those months of the year. Oh, sure they left a skeleton crew but they were kept busy with the swimming pools. It was a fact that almost every town site had a swimming pool. Also have you notice that if you looked at Gatun Lake it was usually green too. Just a few things the leprechauns did during the dry season, not too mention green mangoes! Now leprechauns are always out recruiting a few good helpers but for the most part they do it all! In Panama the leprechauns were up every morning at O'Dark 30, so they could make somebody's day by making the green flash on the horizon at daybreak! Hey lets not forget the green water in the Goethals Memorial took a lot of planning and it was done at night. Yes, the night shift was in charge with some help from their friends. Do you remember the green water? Many of us also remember the soapsude and the bubbles in the water at the memorial. Yes, some mischevous undertakings but all in fun! Now do you recall when the bath soap Irish Spring hit the Panama Canal Company Stores? Now that was something that almost didn't happen but thanks to some Cajun leprechauns in New Orleans the delayed shipment from Ireland was released with their help. Some how it had been misrouted via New Orleans not like it was originally routed. As the result of Irish Spring arriving on time in the old Canal Zone everybody used it and everybody smelled nice. No GAPO (Gorilla Arm Pit Odor) were noticed at the BYC for the annual St Patrick's Day celebrations. The BYC the old Canal Zone number one watering hole and a favorite spot for those who wanted to have fun was jumping. Everyhting was green that night. Some say that even some aliens were in attendance. But there was green beer, green empanadas, green hot sauce and the place was decked out in green everything, The strobe lights were green so if you smiled...well it was best if you didn't! The next mornign the Panama Canal Company dinning facilities had green eggs sunny side up with green toast. Then a few days later everything was back to normal except some kids still had green hair. They had to wear it green for awhile or submit themselves to the buzz cut or as it was then called the "Butch!" Something that stayed green all year around was the green water that one saw off the Amador Causeway. What a sight for sore eyes! The water in the canal waterway was green too! It sparkled like emeralds. A king Ransom...you say! No just the local leprechauns having a bit a fun while enjoying life in this lost paradise called Panama. Well, there is more but by the green clock face on the wall I have to stop for now and await for another hot green transmission for Ireland... Have a Happy St Patrick's Day! Don't forget to wear or you will be pinched. The pincher just might be a leprechaun or just maybe yours truly! ----Leprechaun Willie! |
 |
|
| Irish Stew From Diana Rattray Ingredients: 1 pound lamb or lean mutton cubes 1 pound carrots, diced 1 pound onions, chopped 1-pound potatoes, diced A pinch of salt and pepper 1/4-teaspoon thyme Preparation: Place lamb and thyme in saucepan and add cold water (Chagres River Water if you got it) to cover. Bring slowly to the boil and simmer for one hour. Add onions, potatoes, carrots and season with salt and pepper to taste. Continue cooking until vegetables are tender. When finish serve to those at your special St Patrick's Day gathering. Footnote: Irsih stew, "ballymaloe" or "Stobhach galach" in Gaelic, is traditionally made of lamb. |
 |
 |
| "Erin Begorra by God" |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |