St. Patrick’s Day Memories

In no particular order:

One year we were on WIND radio’s float, which was sponsored by Lenders bagels.  So, of course, it was our job to throw green bagels out to the crowd.  People started charging the float to get the bagels.  The city of Chicago wasn’t pleased and passed a law saying you can’t throw stuff from parade floats.  You don’t need to thank us.

Steve was on the WLS St. Patrick’s Day float waiting for the parade to start.  In the distance he could hear the clip-clop sound of a horse.  As the horse got closer and passed the float Steve was pleasantly surprised to see the rider was The Lone Ranger!  The real one, Clayton Moore!!  He looked amazingly fit and just like he rode out of your TV screen.

Waiting in the rain for the parade to start and seeing this grand old buggy come by with Channel 7’s Fahey Flynn and Joel Daley.  Yeah, even though we know some of these people, sometimes we get a little star struck, too.

Larry Langford is currently the Director of Media Affairs and Communications at the Chicago Fire Department.  He was a newsman when we worked together at WIND.  Rather than ride the WIND float, he asked Steve if he’d like to hop on the back of his motorcycle.  As the WIND float made it’s way down State St. Larry and Steve, on the motorcycle, would circle it.  Things went well untill they rode over WGN-TV’s cable and knocked them off the air.  Yes, WGN-TV was broadcasting the parade live … or at least they were untill that happened.

Him and Her got to ride the WIND float together and, even though it was brutally cold, Steve thought that the new hostess at WIND looked awfully cute in her fake fur coat and earmuffs.  Two years later we were counting down to our wedding, in April.

Steve’s mother, Mary Elizabeth, was born on St. Patrick’s day.  She was first generation born in the U.S.A., her parents having arrived from Ireland with little more than a concertina and the clothes on their backs.

Johnnie’s great-grandmother came from Ireland.

So, for the past 25 years Johnnie has been decorating seasonal trees with a special St. Patrick’s day tree in honor of our ancestors and a lot of good memories.

Johnnie’s St. Patrick’s Day tree!

Here’s hoping you make some great memories.  Happy St. Patrick’s day!!

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