Old Irish Ways

Being proud of my Irish heritage was taught to me form a very young age. To stand up to my fears and never back down from a fight. To resume responsibility for my duties and for my wrong-doings. If I were to back down from something I was told it would bring shame to the family. But this is how I was raised. My whole family is Irish except for my mother. So when my relatives come to visit it is like one big heaping cliche after another. We're load and boisterous, and drink like nobody's business. But when we get angry we hold crazy long ridiculous grudges. This is because we are incredibly stubborn, as is the Irish way. When my Father and my half sister got into an argument they didn't speak for two years. They finally reconciled when my Father grew sick. We know and understand that life is a party and as good Irishmen and women we celebrate it whenever possible. That is why when someone dies we celebrate their journey through life and send them off with a bang. This is what took place after my Father's funeral. We laughed and joked the whole night. Sure there were some tears here and there but they were shed when alone, behind closed doors because being Irish means not showing weakness. We partied into the night and I know if my Father were still alive he would be proud of how we sent him off.