I'm 1/8th Irish so today was another celebration. Ma and I have made it a tradition to go to one of our pet haunts where she can have a green beer and we can listen to the bagpipe and drum band that does a tour of sponsor bars in town. Today the band was slated for two pm so we left at 1:15 and found a parking sppot three block away. When we got to the bar, or near it even, the party was well under way. The place was packed except for a half dozen stair steps that go up to an offize area. We just picked a step and waited. Our little perch turned out to be the best place in the place for seeing the band when they entered off the street after their little parade from the previous bar.
There are about twenty members in this band and I know about half of them personally. They make some super music. The host bar with visited is another old friend from years back, still under the same name and ownership....another Irish Tom. can't be all bad can he be? This year they closed with Amazing Grace, which in its own right has to be my favorite of all favorite songs done by bagpipes. They tossed in a twist this year. It began with a partial band pipe rendition of Amazing Grace...two verses. Then the full band with all pipes and drums did the two verses. When I thought hey were finished they went right into a jazzes up version of the song and had the bar half in tear, the other half cheering. My ears are still ringing. What a marvelous Sunday afternoon.
Its chilly today on the doorstep of yet another winter blast predicted for tomorrow. 25 degrees as I write and a stiff east wind, but the sun is out and where the wind doesn't hit its actually pretty nice. Our walk to the bar and back was fairly out of the wind so we were toasty. She had her green brew while the band played...I just got lost in the music. If I die tomorrow, I think I've heard about the finest music this band has played today. Hoping I don't croak, I can't wait to see how they put a new twist to that favorite old song.
Here's hoping ya'll have/are having a great St. Pat's day!
