St. Patrick’s Day is almost here, and I find myself thinking of my great-grandparents. Back in the 1800s, when they took a boat from County Mayo in Ireland to Pennsylvania, they also took quite a chance. They risked their lives to make a better one for their children and grandchildren.
When they first arrived, my ancestors settled near Scranton with other Irish Catholics. They married amongst themselves and had lots of kids. Cousins grew up next door to other cousins and extended family members were each other's best friends.
My grandparents and their siblings were a strong, tight-knit, loving brood. They worked hard in jobs that required little, if any, formal schooling. Yet these wonderful people provided for their families, went to church each week and enjoyed their lives. Together.
The next generation married more of the same, but my parents, aunts and uncles didn't have as many children. They were able to go to college and get good jobs. A few moved out of town or out of state. Some came back, but others did not.
The following generation is my own, and we married a whole lot of everything.
This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2011.