Dear friends of the Celtic Community: In honor of St. Patricks Day, I would like to share the following selection, Let’s Do This Party One More Time, from our upcoming book, "Chicken Soup for the Celtic Soul®". We are still accepting stories for this book and welcome your submissions. For more information and sample stories from this book please visit our website: http://www.celticsoul.com. I am also including a brief set of guidelines at the end of the story. Happy St. Patricks Day! Le gach deagh dhurachd, Michael MacFarlane, Co-Author the upcoming book, “"Chicken Soup for the Celtic Soul®"?” http://www.celticsoul.com stories@celticsoul.com Let’s Do This Party One More Time Author: Dolly Carlson Every year my Aunt Jane and Uncle Jim host a St. Patrick's Day Party. They live in the Boston area, where it can sometimes seem there are more Irish people than in all of Ireland. At least that's what Actor Robin Williams said after working on the film Good Will Hunting, which was shot in Boston. Now, my Aunt's party is not your stereotypical green beer bash, she is a "prohibitionist" and doesn't serve alcohol in her home. She does however, give a fabulous party which family and friends look forward to every March 17 and it is understood that on St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish! Among my Aunt and Uncles many friends is a young couple with two little girls and the wife has diabetes. One year this young wife was so ill she had to withdraw from every activity in order to get well. Prayers were offered up for her quick recovery but it would be an entire year before she recovered from this current diabetic episode. Those of you who are familiar with diabetes know that it can take quite a toll on your emotions and this young wife was no exception. Well, a year passed and the young wife's return to good health coincided with the annual St. Pat's Party. After receiving the invitation she called to RSVP, my Aunt was delighted to hear her say, "I'm doing really well Jane, we can come to your party, it will be my first official outing". The celebration of Ireland's favorite Saint was a perfect setting for the young wife to reunite with family and friends. The party would be especially meaningful this year. This young husband and wife were in great need of encouragement coming out of a period of great stress and loneliness and into an evening of affirmation, laughter and love. The evening of the annual Irish celebration came. Auntie orchestrates the warmest, friendliest party atmosphere and this year was no exception. Corned beef and cabbage simmered in the kitchen while Jim Scott played the piano in the living room. Everyone gathered round and sang,"Did Your Mother Come >From Ireland?", "My Wild Irish Rose," "Danny Boy" and many other sentimental favorites. The great night came and went but the young couple never appeared. The following day my Aunt received a beautiful flower arrangement delivered to her home. On the card it said, "Dear Jane, So looking forward to the party tonight"! It was from the young couple. Aunt Jane couldn't believe what had happened and knew the young wife would be devastated when she realized the date mix up. And so my darling Auntie and Uncle swung into action, time was of the essence. They called each and every guest who had been at the party the night before and asked if they would please be willing to come back that evening and pretend it was the only St. Patrick's Day Party. It was no easy task for the guests to go to a party two nights in a row. This was March in New England and the weather was bitter cold, some of the guests even "drove up from the Cape". The second party was even better than the first! Each and every person said, "yes"! "Yes, yes, what great fun, and don't worry, we can keep a secret"! and the young couple never knew it was a repeat performance. An loving Irish "a gift from the heart" from these friends of all nationalities. After all, on St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish! All of this happened years ago and the young wife now makes her home in heaven. I like to believe she celebrates St. Patrick's Day with St. Patrick "Himself" and that heaven's angels told her of the very loving and secret blessing she received long, long ago from angels here on earth. Call For Stories! Do you have a story, anecdote or article about your heritage for the upcoming book "Chicken Soup for the Celtic Soul®"? We are excited and delighted to be collecting stories for another in this wonderful series by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. This will be a book of heartwarming, motivational, and inspiring stories in any way related to things past, present and future connected to the Celts or Celtic culture, e.g. Scots, Irish, Welsh, Cornish, Breton, Manx and their descendants throughout the world. Chicken Soup stories are about 1250 words long, this works out to be 3 - 6 published book pages. What a Chicken Soup Story IS: It is an inspirational, true story about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Chicken Soup stories are personal and are filled with vivid images. In some stories, the reader feels that he or she is actually "there" in the scene with the people involved. Chicken Soup stories have heart... but also something extra...that element that makes us all feel more helpful, more connected, more thankful, more passionate, and better about life in general. Chicken Soup stories often end with a "punch"... creating emotion rather than talking about it. The stories should leave the reader with one or more of the following: Goosebumps or butterflies, heartfelt tears, an "aaaaah" feeling, a good belly laugh, or a more exalted reason to feel alive. If your story is one of the 101 chosen, you will be paid US $300.00 If it is used or not you will retain the rights. With over 30 million "Chicken Soup®" books in print, this is an excellent opportunity to bring worldwide attention to the Celtic Community Around the world. Send your stories to us via email if possible or submit them at our website: http://www.celticsoul.com Mail or Fax: Chicken Soup for the Celtic Soul attn: Michael MacFarlane PO Box 398 Glendora CA 91740