I've been celebrating since Saturday night, but last night, the eve of my holy day, Brian and I went BACK to the Dive Bar... This place seemed the place to go on a Monday night... no effort involved, good service, and super chill. Well, we were there maybe a half hour and this group of foreigners started filing in. And by group, I mean maybe 20 or so in the beginning... they were all in dark clothes, leather, skinny jeans, sneakers... just foreign at first glance. But I couldn't really place them... I didn't hear anyone speaking. But I was thinking Eastern Block Mafia types... then Matt arrives. He is perplexed by the atmosphere but doesn’t think too much of it. So after a while, the Mafioso’s started inundating the back of the bar... there were three pretty, gay guys sitting at a gigantic table, all innocent with their starched plaid shirts and their long lashes being surrounded by these people... it was funny to watch. They had this “deer in headlights” look on their faces… but then eventually they started having their pictures taken with these Mafioso’s… I didn’t get it. I needed to know who they were. I asked our server, Ashley aka Candy, and she couldn’t remember who they were, but seemed to recall being told a group of French people were coming to the bar… Ah, so they’re French? Hmmm… ok. So, the French mafia kept filing in… seemed like hundreds, but I guess maybe it was 40 or so… and they all started to look related to me. I was confused. Well – it wasn’t long until one of these guys pulls some bagpipes out of a case and starts playing a little ditty. Well – I was immediately in Irish heaven! But these guys were French? Turns out, they were from Brittany… the Celtic territory in France. One of the mafia guys explained to me that they were here performing at the Nimoy Theater, and then today at the St. Patrick’s Day parade on 5th Avenue. And then a few more nights in the city before heading back to their homeland. Well – this was fantastic! Then one bagpiper became a bagpiper and spoon guy… then 2 bagpipers and a bombard, then 3 bagpipers, 2 bombards, several spoons… it was CRAZY!!! I could feel my cheeks start to cramp with the gigantic smile I was wearing! They are called Bagad Saint Nazaire.
It was a great night! I was genuinely happy and having a great time the whole night! It was quite a relief for me. It felt like I was my old self again, if only for the night.
Tomorrow will be one month since Steve’s death. It will not be a fun day. I am hoping that something good will come tomorrow… something to make the heaviness of the day less… heavy.
Sounds to me like your own little private St. Patrick's Day Eve party was a zillion times better than ANY St. Patrick's Day party I've ever experienced! Hope you provided the jig to go along with the dittys!! Glad you had that grin to wear ... wish I could've seen it! xoxox I know Steve was enjoying it ...
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