Anybody find a pot of gold in the L.G. foothills last week? That's where it looked like that killer rainbow ended. You know, the one that arched gloriously over the post office last Tuesday during one of the brief moments of sunshine between showers. Even if the gold thing is only a myth, that rainbow was a storehouse of natural riches.
With St. Patrick's Day around the corner, you might have a better chance of catching a leprechaun and demanding that he fork over his golden treasures. Of course, that's all blarney, too, but it appeals to the Prowler's Irish side. That's right: Some of this cat's ancestors hail from the Emerald Isle. In fact, our family crest has a lion right in the center, appropriately enough.
It's strange, though, how the Prowler's concept of St. Paddy's Day has changed over the years. As a cub, the main concern was remembering to wear something green to avoid being pinched by classmates. Upon reaching legal age, the focus switched to liquid refreshment, and this cat discovered that a Bud with green food coloring is still just a Bud. Better instead to go with a pint of Guinness: As the pub signs say, "It's good for you."
These days, the Prowler's thoughts are of Grandma, an Irish Catholic who converted to Lutheran when she married Grandpa. When the Prowler's ma was born, Grandma wanted to use her own maiden name, O'Sheridan, as her daughter's middle name. But she thought the better of it after consulting with her minister, who pointed out that the baby's initials would be "G.O.D."
And if that ain't the truth, this cat'll kiss the Blarney stone--provided, of course, that someone will pay the airfare to Erin. In the meantime, the Prowler plans to track down and stalk any leprechauns that may be hiding out along the L.G. Creek Trail.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, March 13, 1996.
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