A Toast to Mary McGuire

Erin: These days, we don’t have much need to know what date it is, so while filling out my visa application in the Laos embassy on Monday I was surprised to note that it was the 17th of March, St. Patrick’s Day. How could I have forgotten? It’s always a big celebration with my dad’s side of the family and we have many fun associated traditions (hope you guys all had a great time on the slopes last weekend!). One of these traditions is in memory of my great grandmother Mary McGuire, who every year used to commemorate the day by sitting down at her table with a glass of whiskey and a cigar. As my brothers and cousins and I were growing up, you can imagine some of the looks and comments from teachers when there were class projects about family traditions and we said, “We drink whiskey and smoke cigars!”

Well, it certainly wasn’t the same being halfway around the world without a big group of family around (and also without costumes!), but Seth and I nevertheless managed to find some whiskey and raised our glasses to Mary McGuire. Love to you all! Miss you!