Anyone who reads this blog knows about my obsession with fairies, elves and other wee folk. In which case, it should come as no surprise that growing up, one of my favorite holidays was St. Patrick’s day. Every year my brother and I would leave out potatoes as an offering to the leprechauns and, in return, we would be greeted in the morning with mint candies and hand written notes.

My leprechaun obsession grew so large, in fact, that one summer I convinced my visiting cousin that there was one residing in my grandmother’s closet. At the time, we were probably eight years old and my leprechaun hysteria not only convinced him of my declaration but also scared the living crap out of him.

It probably didn’t help that my grandmother went along with the rouse and had (speaking on the leprechaun’s behalf) accepted the invitation I had left for the elf, inviting him to dinner. Unsurprisingly, we did not have a leprechaun dinner guest, but to this day, my family still laughs about the incident.

Inspired by this memory, last Spring I wrote a short story for my grandmother that interpreted this incident into a fictional story about a leprechaun that wreaks havoc on the land of Graham (I grew up on John Graham Road, by the way) and plays pranks on children Em, Matteo and Billeth.

Since having written this first “Land of Graham” story, it is my hope to one day have it published as well as write several other installations, all based loosely on the antics of the childhood I shared with my brother and cousin.

I thought, given the holiday, this would be an appropriate time to share this aspiration. I also hope to one day share the stories I have written on this blog.

In any case, have a Happy St. Patrick’s day! I hope that the leprechauns didn’t destroy your home and that you drink lots of beer!

Erin go bragh!

  
(ps. cover photo done in Prismacolor pencils)