Dear Readers,

Just a few nights ago my husband and I were watching our wedding video that will be 20 years old this August.

At the end of our reception, guests were invited to share well wishes on video. Not hav ing watched the video for several years, we had, of course, forgotten the content of many of the messages. My eldest brother John, who just celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Donna, (yes, they have 30 more years than my husband and I have) spoke about passion. “The same passion that I witnessed today is what will carry you through for many years; you must maintain passion for each other,” he said.

The word “passion” is defined as “strong and barely control lable emotion.” The organ most associat ed with passion all emotion, the heart, is given the national spotlight during the month of February. It has been said that music has the power to be felt within the heart. “When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums, there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes,” state the lyrics of a popular broadway song. It is no wonder that the American Heart Association has provided a song playlist with which to accurately teach the correct rhythm for performing CPR. We quite literally can feel the beat within us.

My brother John and his wife Donna (in 1995), who recently celebrated 50 years of marriage.

Oscar Wilde expressed it this way: “Who, being loved, is poor?” Yet he was careful to describe the type of love one should seek: “Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary.” Aiming for the extraordinary is a manifestation of passion.

February is a month devoted to passion, but it need not be just for lovers. Healthy living, artistic endeavors, athletic abilities, business excellence, God and spirituality are just a few examples of areas where passions take root.

Producing Happenings each month would not be possible if not for the sheer passion of the small team of individuals who creatively work their talents each month. For each one, I am eternally grateful.

Our cover article features the 25th Anniversary of Riverdance, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and passionate portrayal of Irish dance. Passion is deep within the Irish culture, a land that has bred the term, “The Fighting Irish,” perhaps by virtue of all that they have overcome. Irish poet and playwright,

Wishing you much love this month of February,

PaulaPaula Mackarey Publisher, 1994-Present

Don’t miss the 25th Anniversary Show of Riverdance, as you’ve never seen it before! A powerful and stirring reinvention of this beloved favorite, celebrated the world over for its Grammy Award-winning score and the thrilling energy and passion of its Irish and international dance. Composer Bill Whelan has rerecorded his mesmerizing soundtrack while producer Moya Doherty and director John McColgan have completely reimagined the ground-breaking show with innovative and spectacular lighting, video, stage and costume designs.