Adults, be careful on St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick’s Day is arriving in the United States in less than 24 hours and I know plenty of people are excited. The pandemic canceled the parade festivities for two years. The snowy weather postponed some St. Patrick’s Day parades in the Northeast, but some cities, such as Utica carried on and embraced the weather with the luck of the Irish. The St. Patrick’s Day parade in Albany, New York is rescheduled for Saturday March 19th.

If you are actually Irish or will be adopting the country for the day, please be careful. You are older than you were, the last time the parade occurred. You might have gained a few pounds, since you last walked or watched the parade. You are going to see people that you haven’t seen in a couple of years. They might have lost family members, pets or friends that were not posted on social media. Some people may be wearing masks and some will not. People may have mental health issues. Keep conversations short and positive. Make a plan to meet up on a different date and catch up.

Food and adult beverages are going to be a bit different too. Two years have passed. Get your antacids out and put them in your pocket. Make sure you have a couple of bottles of water with you; no real need to relive your 18th or 21st birthday. Your kids and grandbabies, don’t need to see you pulling a Linda Blair or using the vomit emoji to describe your antics. Book an Uber, Lyft, taxi or designated driver. Bring a flashlight, some tissues and some wipes with you.

Be careful and have fun!