Well the predicted storm has materialized and it has snowed like the devil all day long. Fortunately it was so warm yesterday that the snow is melting when it hits the ground, but we still have about an inch covering the grass.

It’s not unusual to get a St, Patrick’s Day storm, but it is one tradition I’d happily see discontinued!

I had a really nice surprise at school today, my mother sent me flowers! It’s a lovely bouquet of cut flowers that include green carnations, daffodils and baby’s breath. It’s so cheery, springy and Irish! It was really a special thing to receive.

No one else looks at St, Patrick’s Day as being special the same way that my family does, but some of my friends do understand.

Tonight I will have a drink (non-alcoholic) from a mug that Cathy gave me. It has shamrocks on it and belonged to her only son who was killed by a drunk driver ten years ago this coming Christmas. She gave it to me about six years ago and every year I either have it as part of my St. Patrick’s Day centerpiece or I raise a toast to him.

I never knew him, as I didn’t start working with Cathy until the September after he had been killed. She used to tell me stories about him and I used to cry all the way home. I hold it together through the stories as she was telling them, but would dissolve once I was alone in the car.

For years she kept his room as it was the night he was killed and kept all his old toys and other treasures. Slowly she began to give them away. She gave my nephew all of his old Legos. The day she gave me the mug I knew that it was a very meaningful gesture. I, of course, cried.

She ended up divorcing her husband two years ago (he left her) and having to sell their house. In many was this was a good thing as it took her out of the place that held so many memories. She still goes to the cemetery daily, though.

I don’t think that that’s something you ever recover from.

I’ve been internet obsessed all day as I’ve been trying to get the order of appearance for our competition. They were holding the drawing at Sweet Adelines International Headquarters today. I’ve been beside myself waiting to hear.

Much like the Olympics, placement can be very important (even though the powers that be claim that’s not so). I think the judges have to leave room for the choruses that are singing later in competition, just in case there is something wonderful that happens.

Last year we were the first of the larger choruses and sang eighth. We ended up in eighth place, the lowest we’ve ever come in, and the only time we hadn’t placed in the top five in the last ten years. It was devastating and I think part of it had to do with the fact that we were so early in the competition.

Anyways, I just discovered that we are going to be contestant #17 this year. And they picked us on the 17th! I think this is all good karma (I am very superstitious about signs like that). There are 22 competing choruses, so I like this placement. It’s not too late in the day, but it’s not so early that we’re dead in the water either.

Now I have to start lighting candles and praying a lot. I really want to make top five this year. It’s important to medal. Of course competition isn’t until May 13 so I have a long wait ahead of me!