Luck of the Irish

I am not a fan of St. Patrick's Day.   It is the day, 16 years ago, that my daughter was kicked into a pulp by a gang of half a dozen older boys as she lay on top of a friend they had labeled as gay, trying to protect him from their kicks.   The police said she saved his life, and 4 of the thugs were later convicted of assault with intent to do great bodily harm.   My 14 year old daughter was already displaying problems and I was already feeling inadequate to help her, but the St. Patrick's Day attack turned the tide and marks, in my mind, the beginning of her spin into places I cannot reach.