The Leprechauns Wished Us Luck
Then a curmudgeon told them to clean up their mess
Last Saturday, on my morning walk with Abby and Jewels, I noticed that the leprechauns had been busy spreading their joy before St. Patrick’s Day. A number of houses in the neighborhood had been graced with a chalk drawing of a four-leaf clover. Some even had messages of luck or happy days.
But, not mine. I’d been passed up like a buck-toothed kid on the playground.
On closer inspection, it appeared that these sweet little drawings had been left on only one side of the neighborhood. Ah, maybe they simply ran out of time. I had hope that they’d hit my side the next day.
To my complete delight, the four-leaf-clover pictured above appeared in my driveway on Sunday. Oh, happy day, the leprechauns picked me for their team! I’ve been blessed with the luck of the Irish!
I’m always glad to know that the little boogers are out and about and up to mischief instead of playing computer games indoors. And, they’re being creative to boot.
When I put my car in the garage, I drove to the side of the driveway. I didn’t want to ruin the good cheer, or destroy a masterpiece.
Then on Monday morning, the community got an ominous email from the chalk police, AKA the Neighborhood Association, reminding us about the harmful effects of chalk drawings on property values, and that it’s every homeowner’s responsibility to limit detritus in their front yards.
Who would use the word detritus to describe chalk drawings?
I know the curmudgeon that wrote the email and I swear the guy has nothing better to do than look for things to complain about. I’m convinced he was a lousy kid that never knew about having fun. Or, about being a reasonable human being.
Furthermore, if he’d read the news or the weather reports, he’d have known about the new “atmospheric river” arriving Tuesday and understood that those sweet drawings wouldn’t last the day.
I’ve just been outside and, sure enough, I can barely see the clover now. I’m sure today’s rain will remove the last streaks of green chalk, washing the beautiful artwork into a storm drain.
The truth is, though, that drawing made my day and I’m grateful for being included. I’m still walking around with a smile on my face and a hopeful attitude. I can even wish the neighborhood gloom-meister love and light, and hope he stops complaining long enough to find something to be happy about.
May the leprechauns always find your house with their beautiful green chalk. I wish all of my Medium friends happiness on this lovely Saint Patrick’s Day.