My mom’s side of the family came to the U.S. from Ireland, and growing up, St. Patrick’s Day was always a big deal. I remember being surrounded by Irish dancers, the sound of bagpipes, and, of course, plenty of green beer. My sister was one of those dancers, and my family would gather to celebrate the holiday. My grandmother would sing When Irish Eyes Are Smiling and other Irish tunes.
These days, the celebration looks a little different. For the past two years, my family has come to my house, and I’ve taken on the tradition of cooking corned beef and cabbage. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or maybe I’ve just figured out the secret to a great meal, but man, it’s been great. (Pro tip: Don’t cook the potatoes with the corned beef—bake them in the oven instead. Total game-changer.)
Before I got sober, St. Patrick’s Day was one of my favorite drinking holidays. I always thought it was one of the best party days of the year, and honestly, I still think that’s true. But today, I spent the day doing yoga and sharing belly laughs with my family. And you know what? It was perfect.
