Vintage Memories

VINTAGE MEMORIES

Born weighing an Irish lucky seven-eleven,

winning numbers in a crapshoot beginning.

A pink bundle screams wordless demands,

tones magically receive psychic responses.

All wishes red-carpet care granted at home,

challenging expectations outside the door,

world mysteries grow puzzling discoveries.

A grandfather waved goodbye to Ireland

stepping on Ellis Island leaving an “O” behind

to mask changing identity, blending a new

pitched accent to find a pot of gold formed

at the end of rainbow streets edged in clover.

School days celebrated a saint named Patrick

removed snakes from an emerald hued island.

Whispering grasses help find four-leaf clovers

granting a gift of seven days good fortune.

A two dollar tee-shirt worn in summer.

Four-leaf clover centered, words state

KISS ME I’M IRISH. Morning smiles

faded through a traffic-jammed day.

Long line crawled to a cheerless cashier,

monotone declaring, “I’ll ring up your

purchase, but I won’t kiss you.”

Surprised, a finger pointed to my shirt.

Forgotten slogan brightened our day.

April Ryan is a retired Seattle bus driver who loves to write and writes about love.

SHARING STORIES is a weekly column for and about the 50 plus crowd living in the Puget Sound region. Send your stories and photos to ariele@comcast.net. Tell local or personal stories; discuss concerns around aging and other issues; share solutions, good luck, and reasons to celebrate; poems are fine too. Pieces may be edited or excerpted. We reserve the right to select among pieces. Photos are always a plus and a one-sentence bio is requested (where you live, maybe age or career, retired status, etc.).

SHARING STORIES is featured on www.northwestprimetime.com, the website for Northwest Prime Time, a monthly publication for baby boomers, seniors, retirees, and those contemplating retirement. The newspaper can be found in the greater Seattle area and other Puget Sound locations. For more information, call 206-824-8600 or visit www.northwestprimetime.com. To find other SHARING STORIES articles on this website type "sharing stories" in the search function.