St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is a holiday I’ve really grown to love as an adult. I’ll be honest. It has nothing to do with its religious roots. Instead I see it as a chance to wear green, attend Irish themed festivities and drink green beer. I also like to jokingly tell people I’m black Irish when they ask why I’m so excited :)

Growing up St. Patrick’s Day always stood out because it’s also my Dad’s birthday. As a kid I didn’t grasp how cool it must be for your birthday to fall on that particular holiday. Conversely having your birthday fall on Thanksgiving or Christmas wouldn’t be nearly as joyous. I personally wouldn’t want to share my birthday with a major event.

Over the weekend it struck me that my life was very different a year ago. The Friday night before St. Patrick’s I was hanging out with friends at Bumstead’s, my favorite bar in Myrtle Beach, and wearing my new “Kiss me I’m Irish” t-shirt. I had a great time especially since I’d gotten off work early that day - that in and of itself was worth celebrating.

Little did I know at the time one of the biggest stories of the year would happen that Saturday (the 16th), the Windsor Green condo fire. When the call come over the scanner I initially thought it wasn’t going to be major. The weekend reporter, Brianna Smith, said she would go check it out on her way home but as soon as she walked outside she called for me to come out and look. East of the station there was a HUGE plume of black billowing smoke. Immediately I knew it was serious. This was not going to be just a brush fire. I probably yelled out a few obscenities as I figured out what to do next.

Those living in Windsor Green lost all of their belongings in a fast moving fire fueled by dry conditions and high winds. In the end the fire destroyed 26 buildings, nearly 200 people were displaced, and a few dozen pets died. Those first few hours of the fire were pretty chaotic for us in the newsroom and for those in the field. It was a memorable day for those covering it, those affected, and those who responded. During the next week or so the Windsor Green fire was one of the top stories for all the television stations and the local newspapers. It was so devastating Governor Nikki Haley visited the site to tour the damage.

While I’m no longer in the area, I still keep up with what’s happening. Today the burned buildings have been replaced by new ones and the community is moving forward. 

It’s really hard to believe a year has gone by. So much has changed for the better and I’m happy to be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in a new place.

In keeping with honoring the day I’d like to leave you with this Irish blessing.

May there always be work for your hands to do.

May your purse always hold a coin or two.

May the sun always shine on your windowpane.

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Of course I'm wearing green today!