Surprise Part Deux

As mentioned, I’m not big on surprises, for myself anyway, but millenials seem to love them. Last week, Aidan threw Jamie a surprise birthday party. Today, she’s taking him on a surprise birthday vacation to Ireland and the U.K.. In fact, I’m about to drive them to the airport. I don’t know how she’s managed to keep it quiet for 4 months, but she has, and he STILL doesn’t know where he’s going. Doesn’t want to know, and she’s trying to postpone it as long as she can. He may be IN the U.K. for several days before she lets him know where they are.

First stop is Dublin, where they will meet up with Ronan (our younger son, who is at uni in Bristol, England.) Interesting fact: both Aidan and Ronan are Irish citizens (as well as Canadian, of course,) although they have never been there before. That was a gift from my Dublin born father. If you have a parent born in Ireland, you qualify for the Irish Foreign Birth Registry, and once you get your citizenship, your children can too. It takes a lot of time and energy to get all the forms approved, but I’m a firm believer in having as many passports as you can, because you never know… My dad died just before the boys had their registration approved, but it would have made him very happy to know his grandsons can call Ireland home if they so choose.

So Dublin for several days, coinciding with St. Patrick’s Day. There may be some alcohol involved, I don’t know. Then Ronan goes back to school, and A&J head to Edinburgh for the weekend, and then down to London for the week and his actual birthday. My best friend and Aidan’s godmother lives there, so more celebrations will ensue, and maybe some more alcohol, I don’t know. At this point, Jamie will have probably let Aidan know where he is.

Then it’s back home to figure out all the things a 24 year old adult needs to know, namely what to do, where to do it, and whom to do it with. I think Aidan is well on his way to answering those questions. In the mean time, happy day, golden boy. Enjoy every moment.