Happy Saint Valentine's Day. People thought my father Irish. He wasn't.
I'm Welsh, at least on my father's side, who had exactly one Irish ancestor who was named Cecelia McGuire and was "kidnapped" in Ireland at age 14 to become a wife in America. Cecelia birthed 22 children, but only 6 survived into adulthood. Her husband, David my 2nd great grandfather, only called her "meGirl" and was quite older than Cecelia. When Cecelia died young, David said (documented), "I'll meet you soon MeGirl," took to his bed and promptly died with a weepy smile on his face. Neither drank, cheated or lied, though it is said David gave up those things plus gambling when he married Cecelia. They educated their kids, took care of the poor and the sick and fought to preserve the Union from then until now.
My mother's family known to be sturdy Scots and Prussians had many more Irish hanging tough in the family tree. Those Irish made peace with Chief of the Powhatan, Opechancanough, one married Princess Nicketti who was a niece to Makoita (Pocahontas), others founded Richmond, Virginia, commanded the artillery at Yorktown and built a family empire that covered Goochland, Cumberland and most of present day West Virginia and a lot of Ohio. They married well, worked hard and taught their children well enough to attend the best colleges of the day and founded a few more with the intent that all could get an education. They didn't drink, cheat or lie. They fought to preserve their state and their world in the War of Northern Aggression and then they fought to preserve America in every war since. Their word and character were their bond. Their bond was worth its weight in gold.
They never celebrated Saint Valentine's Day except to pray. I don't believe there is a sign on the Gates of Heaven stating, "Irish need not apply."
