THE GOOD LIFE AT 15 CRAIGSIDE

I of course celebrate St. Patrick's Day, for, after all, how many have a day named after you?  Here is what I will eat and imbibe for my major meal today.

I've had numerous postings of this day, and here is one:  Everything You Need to Know about St. Patrick's Day. You ask, why is St. Patrick's Day observed in America, and the answer goes back to when the Irish people came here to help found Boston and New York City.  The first parade was held in Manhattan in 1762.  In the early days of Ireland, Celtic charms of four-leaf clovers offered magical protection.  Did you know that four leaves are really rare?  Only ONE in 10,000.

Did you know that the political leaders of both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland make an annual pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. on March 17?  This has happened for a century or so because the USA has had a positive influence over the politics of Ireland since the split occurred.  Here is Biden making remarks today.

If you regularly visit this blog site, you know that I live in a retirement community with around 200 residents.  20 of them pass away annually, so people come and go.  And we do get old, which is why I just got hearing aids.

There is security, comfort and good food.  Three times a day for the rest of my life.  However, I've only had around 20% of meals we are served, this St. Patrick's Day as a good example of my wanting something extra.   I come down to the dining room only four times/week, at dinner tables with specific residents.  Plus, perhaps, a lunch, as for example, just before our Photo Club gathering at the first Sunday of the month.  Here, Scott Kubo, our mentor from the Honolulu Museum of Art.

The gathering featured a review of photo contests.  On the first slide I noticed this somewhat colorful image below the screen.

So I went up and took this photo.  The window behind the screen was stained glass, and the sunlight showed this pattern.

Our dinner tables feature mostly wines, usually red.

People bring appetizers.  Here, roast duck with David and Steve.

I might add that these two, with Charlene are leading the effort to educate the residents about falling, as will later be mentioned.  Those red roses were from March 1, and as of today, they still look good.

We usually eat in my apartment, and splurge on otoru, foie gras, caviar and so forth, with a range of beverages.

Noticed a Gold Tree blooming a short walk away from 15 Craigside.

We have an abundance of rainbows here.

We are visited by the season.  Lion dance for Chinese New Year.

Another dinner with Gau Gee, Dexter, Violet and Steve.

Another wine night.

We sometimes skip to scotch.

A not so healthy Hawaiian luau in my room because of the high sodium content.  The chef rightfully tries to minimize salt in his efforts.

But a nutritious Oriental meal.

Kupuna Aikido has to do with teaching residents to fall properly.  At our age it is much more dangerous just to walk than to ride in a car.  Various other courses are regularly held on balance, coordination, and strength, leading to various Tai Chi classes.  The next phase will be on how to prevent injury when you fall.  So we had a long session on this subject.  David, Steve and Charlene are the first to take this course, and the plan is to educate the rest of the residents.  We had an introductory session, Kupuna Aikido with the instructors.

Then for the St. Patrick's Day weekend, we had a special cocktail hour featuring corned beef, Guinness beer, San Simeon wine and a Bailey's dessert.

Monarch butterflies are approaching extinction due to climate change and habitat loss.  At 15 Craigside we are doing a bit to help by planting crown flowers, food for the butterflies.  Here is a display.

I've had a calamansi tree on my lanai now for several years.  The latest crop show from 50 to 75 more fruits to come.

Tropical Cyclone Megan is just about making landfall over Australia at around 100 MPH.  However, don't recognize any cities.

-