It's the Ides of March.
It was on this date in 44 B.C. that Julius Caesar was done in - by his own pals in the Roman Senate. They took turns stabbing him. Even his buddy, Brutus, which led to the immortal line from the dying Caesar: "Et Tu, Brute?"
All I know is that March 15 means it is two days away from St. Paddy's Day.
And for me that means a very special tradition.
I will sit down this weekend and watch one of my very favorite movies.
Which one?
Here's a hint.
"Homeric."
Don't know it? Shame on you if you call yourself a descendant of the Emerald Isle.
That line could only come from "The Quiet Man."
That also happens to be the line we used to describe my father.
Yes, he was a man of few words.
Ironically, some say that attribute was passed down to his youngest son, a man who deals with words all day long.
Yes, I am fairly prolific in front of the keyboard.
Conversation? Uh, not so much.
Green beer? I don't think so.
Some silly plastic green hat? Not me.
On Sunday I will don my father's tie, the one handed down to him from his father, the one that came with him from the old country, and I will watch my favorite movie.
"Well it's a nice, soft night, so I think I'll go and join me comrades and talk a little treason. G'night, Sean.
I didn't have Barry Fitzgerald in mind when I named my son Sean. His middle name is Duffy, which happens to be my mother's mother's maiden name. My very Italian wife swallowed hard and accepted the name I selected for our son.
Never underestimate the power of family.v
Happy St. Paddy's Day, dad.
Or should I say Quiet Man.
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