Happy Bicameral St. Patrick's Day!
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:44 pm
This anecdote appeared in a local weekly paper here in Portland, Oregon around this time last year:
DEAR MERCURY — In full anticipation of general derision, I confess that I, for one, believe in leprechauns, having met one when I was a young man living in New York City. I was awakened abruptly one night — thrown from my bed — by a short, red-bearded figure, dressed in green, with a large belt buckle securing his trousers. He spoke first, saying, "You try too hard," then turned and disappeared into the mist from whence he came. I actually didn't realize this creature was a leprechaun until I related the story to a Scottish woman I dated soon thereafter. She explained that leprechauns appear when you least expect them, and only to those of Gaelic descent, and that they tell the truth. I should point out that this woman said that she had seen woodland sprites back in Scotland. That's all there is to it. I have never gone out of my way in any manner to explore or justify my experience. I am not a collector of crystals or new age music. If someone were to suggest that I had a dream, painted in cultural archetypes, I would allow their interpretation. If they were to insist that I accept some such interpretation, I simply wouldn't. The impression of truthfulness in my experience is as strong now as it was then, some 26 years ago. I believe in leprechauns, having once met one.
Patrick Hartigan
DEAR MERCURY — In full anticipation of general derision, I confess that I, for one, believe in leprechauns, having met one when I was a young man living in New York City. I was awakened abruptly one night — thrown from my bed — by a short, red-bearded figure, dressed in green, with a large belt buckle securing his trousers. He spoke first, saying, "You try too hard," then turned and disappeared into the mist from whence he came. I actually didn't realize this creature was a leprechaun until I related the story to a Scottish woman I dated soon thereafter. She explained that leprechauns appear when you least expect them, and only to those of Gaelic descent, and that they tell the truth. I should point out that this woman said that she had seen woodland sprites back in Scotland. That's all there is to it. I have never gone out of my way in any manner to explore or justify my experience. I am not a collector of crystals or new age music. If someone were to suggest that I had a dream, painted in cultural archetypes, I would allow their interpretation. If they were to insist that I accept some such interpretation, I simply wouldn't. The impression of truthfulness in my experience is as strong now as it was then, some 26 years ago. I believe in leprechauns, having once met one.
Patrick Hartigan