It's the Brian Laira Show on WNYC. Good morning, everyone, and happy St. Patrick's Day on this March 17th.

If you're going to the parade, you might have to march or watch in the rain today.

But think of how much better that still might feel than St. Patrick's Day five years ago.

March 17th, 2020 was basically the second day of COVID lockdown in New York City.

Remember the day before, Monday, March 16th, was the first day

that schools were closed in the city to stop the spread and so much else was closed. The first of what

would be 47,000 New Yorkers had already died from the plague. And to protect everyone else who

was vulnerable, there was no St. Patrick's

Day parade. So we did what we could do here and held a St. Patrick's Day parade of the air.

We invited listeners who might have gone to the parade in person to gather via the radio and

call in to celebrate your Irishness out loud for our whole community to hear.

One of those callers was Geraldine from Harrison, the Westchester County Town. Remember this?

Well, Brian, it's very different because I'm used to for many years. March the 17th is such a special holiday. I go to

the parade and have often walked up Fifth Avenue with the Monaghan Society, or if I'm not, I'm on

the sidelines just with such energy, because everybody's Irish on March the 17th, no matter

where you're from. And I'm missing that today, but I am wearing my green, and I did a little bit of an Irish jake around my apartment.

And, you know, I might branch out for a little walk later.

But nothing like normal.

You know, the energy's not there.

But I'll talk to my family at home and, you know, we'll go from there.

Geraldine and Harrison five years ago today.

Later in today's show, we'll play another clip of a great caller from that St. Patrick's Day

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