Hi there, guys and dolls! Happy St. Paddy’s Day! May the luck of the Irish be with all of us. By the way, have I ever told you about good old Rosie O’Grady in our neighborhood. Or, as we all call her, Rosie O’Shady. Yep, she’s earned that. Likes it, too!

So here’s how it goes. Dear, sweet Rosie moved into town about five years ago, full of her Irish brogue. Charming girl, really. Robust redhead, enough charm to turn all the clovers to four leaf. And get all the husbands chasing down her rainbow to her pot of gold.

One leprechaun in particular, (that would be Rob, husband of Millie), seemed to have figured he had caught his fortune, til his wife found out and snapped the lid of that one down on his head. Rosie just laughed, poured him another green beer and moved on to another pipsqueak who tried to kiss her Blarney Stone (that would be Frank, who’s kisser never quite puckered up the same after that, just ask his wife Marlene…).

You see, our Rosie is a bit of a shady lady. She runs a gambling hall out of the basement, poker table and roulette wheels included. Pretty snazzy. She also brews her beer in the shed out back (how she gets it green, I don’t want to know), and throws the liveliest parties you’ll ever attend. And the debauchery she gets away with! Let’s just say it’s the original Whisky A-Go-Go, with a Vegas floor show added in. And never gets a fine or an invitation to the local hoosegow. Such skill! Such organization! Just how does she do it?

Why, by being related to half the police department and dating the other half. In fact, we all know now that if the phone just rings and rings down at the station, just give Rosie’s a call to reach them at the second office. True. Her back porch is furnished with the latest radio and police technology for that very purpose! How handy.

Anyhoo, sweet Rosie O’Grady may have a song and a movie all about her (one about her daughter, too), but I prefer our Rosie O’Shady with her thriving, swinging business that keeps all the cops and robbers in one place. Slainte, Rosie! That’s one clever way to keep the wind always at your back…

Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more posts. And don’t forget to give my Poppy Cove Mysteries a try if you haven’t already.

Toodles, Barbara Jean