Green is for spring, but it’s also come to stand for pride in being Irish-American.  I imagine that is because of the shamrock, that humble little bright green plant that Patrick, a Roman Christian, chose to teach the Irish about The Holy Trinity, which he so strongly believed in.

In writing my new picture book , St. Patrick's Day, I had to tread carefully, because if I had singled out Patrick’s mission as bringing Christianity to the farthest western part of Europe—the land of Ireland, it might have appeared to stretch that fragile line of separation between church and state we uphold.  If so, it might have been considered inappropriate in a great many public schools in the United States. 

And that would have been a shame, for although St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, and of New York City, he was above all, a bringer of peace.  Would that we could hear how he managed to persuade those warning chieftains to make friends, for we could use a peacemaker in our own time.  So in telling his tale to young children, I ignored pots of gold at the end of the rainbow and all the secular glitter we bring to the day, and focused on Patrick’s love and goodness toward all.

It happens that my next-door neighbor of many years was an O’Brien. Her parents were born in Ireland, and I was the recipient for years of a loaf of soda bread.  Our children grew up together—her five and my three.  Since her five have multiplied into twelve, Lizzy and I decided to dedicate St. Patrick's Day to the twelve O’Brien descendents.  Betty’s daughter Jackie gave a beautiful luncheon for us and as many O’Brien girls as she could gather together, and we signed the book to each grandchild.

As if the day weren’t perfect enough—word reached us by e-mail that my littlest grandson and Lizzy’s littlest nephew arrived a bit early in Beijing, China, where my son lives.  His Chinese wife chose the name Sullivan Wong Rockwell for him, not knowing that “Sullivan” is an Irish name meaning “The Little Dark-Eyed One.”  She just liked the name, and Wong is her maiden name.

 The timing and name choice couldn’t have been better!  A perfect ending to a perfect day!