St. Bridget and St. Patty

February 1 is the feast day of St. Bridget (aka Brigid, Bride, et al.). Bridget, who lived from 453 to 523, established four monasteries for women, the principal at Kildare. She is one of the three most revered saints of Ireland, with Patrick and Columba. Bridget is the patron saint of scholars. Scholarly viewers of Pointless Digressions, take note.

Patty Andrews, youngest (and blondest) of the Andrews Sisters, has departed this world, at age 94. Her elder siblings, LaVerne and Maxene (sic), left much earlier. While not jazz singers, the Andrews were great swing performers, with extraordinary harmonic ability and non-stop rhythm. Among their hits: "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon," "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time," the slightly risque "Rum and Coca-Cola," and "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B," later the backing for a terrific dance piece by Paul Taylor. We like to imagine the Andrews Sisters reunited on some celestial plane, possibly welcomed by Bob Hope.

Meanwhile, there are saints all around us...