Kiss Me, I’m Irish!
Growing up with the last name Shanahan led to many questions about my heritage, mostly in the form of “Oh, Irish are ya?” after hearing my name or introducing myself… to which, of course, I would smile and respond yes, I am Irish. But never being to Ireland, and beyond a few negative but-possibly-true stereotypes that came with the family name, it never really felt real to me. No matter my name, no matter my cultural DNA from my parents, mostly, I am American and more than that, I am human.
I grew up in Los Angeles, as did both of my parents. We didn’t travel much because we didn’t have the means to do so and beyond having this very cultural name, I didn’t really identify with any culture or anyone really. As I grew up, my name started to bother me and I got to the point where I didn’t want to introduce myself with my last name at all, just to avoid the strange Irish conversation that would inevitably follow, to which I didn’t know how to respond and to which I never knew how to continue after the answer.
When I married, I took on another cultural name, Tintari, which is very Italian, but I rarely, if ever, have anyone ask me about it or my heritage because of it, which is quite nice really. And since my grandma was a proud Italian, even though my mom was adopted so it’s not technically running through our blood, we were raised with a real Italian undertone, to which I think I almost identify with more than with Irish.
Beyond all of it, no matter what or with whom we identify, we are more than our names or beliefs, we are more than the bloodlines running through our bodies and the color of our skin, eyes, and hair. We are all alive together, here and now, and we are all human. In this way, we are all united and that’s pretty amazing when you think about it.
One year ago {yesterday} we brought our new puppies home and named them Trevor and Randy. We had such a hard time coping with the loss of LeRoy, we thought that the only thing that would feel different enough and offer a new experience so that we didn’t feel like we were “replacing LeRoy”, was to get two brothers, and we’re so happy we did.
They turned one in January and they make us smile and laugh every single day.
Bebop Pugman is our honorary leprechaun this St. Patty’s Day, mostly because he is the only one who will sit still long enough for costumes and props.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Lovecats!
* Cheers to a fun and safe night of green drinks!
