March is a funny month. When I was working in a school, my colleagues and I would look at the calendar, void of any days off, and sigh. The long-awaited spring break provided respite. If spring break were at the end of March, so be it. Then there was April to contend with, but at least that was only 30 days.

Things that happen in March:

Saint Patrick’s Day. Being of Irish heritage, we always celebrated somehow. I would get cards in the mail from my grandmother, aunt, and cousin. It was also my aunt’s feast day, Sister Patricia, as a Mercy nun. My mom would dress us in our greenery, and I would proudly and blatantly wear my heritage for all to see. Later on, I was eagerly a part ot the real reason for St. Pat’s, drinking and carousing. The NJ Coast Line was filled with drunken teens headed for the parade, and any Irish pub where we would hopefully be able to pee, throw up, or both. Ahh, those were the days.

March Madness. Although I do like basketball, I never really watch it on TV, except during March Madness. I don’t bet much because I hate to lose, but I make exceptions during spring (basketball) and fall (football). They are friendly pools with friends, nobody’s going to break my legs, and it takes some of the monotony out of the month. Of course, usually, I have barely written out the bracket when I’m already eliminated. But it’s fun.

Women’s History Month. I’m not sure when this started, but certainly not when I was in school. I remember being in third grade, going to the library to pick out books. I liked reading biographies and looked for ones about women. I remember reading about Annie Oakley and some wife of a politician in the 1800’s. Maybe Amelia Earhart too. There weren’t many. I’m glad there are more today.

Lent. Ashes on Ash Wednesday (February). Giving up sweets, but allowed to eat them on Sunday. (Was that a thing or just made up?) Fish sticks or pizza on Fridays. Going to confession. Waiting for the Easter Bunny to reward us with all the candy we had sacrificed. Easter outfits. SRO for Easter Mass. And food and family. That’s what it was like for me as a kid.

Spring. Ahhh spring. Reward for enduring the cold winter that you thought would never end. Renewal, hope for better days. Opportunity for new growth. Tadpoles in the creek, leaves on the trees, waking up to chirping birds. Being outside all day. Playing kickball, climbing trees.

As I write, we are past the ides of March. Tomorrow we have the spring equinox.

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

And like the seasons, we go round and round. We are darkness and light.