As this St. Patrick’s Day approaches, the holiday is taking on a special meaning for the wife and I this year.
And why is that you may ask? Why is this St. Patrick’s Day any different than others? Let me explain, but first, we must go back in time a few months.
“Honey,” the wife said over dinner, “it’s 2024. Do you know what that means?”
“Um…” I said a bit confused. “You passed your Medicare mental acuity test? Did you get the hands of the clock right? I didn’t. Apparently, there was some discrepancy on my arm lengths.”
“It’s 2024. We were married in 1974. Now do you know what that means?”
“Whoa! That’s a buttload of years.”
“How many years exactly?” she pushed.
“Don’t make me do math! I’m a journalist for crying out loud! The only numbers I care about is what page my column is going to be on!”
“FIFTY YEARS! We will be married for fifty years this summer.”
“Oh, well what do you want? A meal? A medal? A trophy?” I said.
“I want all of the above,” she said.
“Well, that’s a pretty bold demand for a starter wife.”
“Starter wife? Hey, if you think you can do better, you go right ahead and try. But first you’re taking me to Ireland for our fiftieth wedding anniversary!”
If I can say one thing about the wife, she is pretty gosh darn specific about what she wants. There was no deliberation, no hesitancy about broaching the subject. In one short sentence, “You’re taking me to Ireland…” all questions were answered about what she wanted for being married to me for fifty years. Quite frankly, she deserves more than just a trip.
“Why Ireland?” I cautiously asked.
“Did you know that Ireland is the twentieth largest island in the world?”
“Ireland is an island? Get out! I thought it was the upper peninsula of Mexico.”
She continued, “Oh, Honey, just think how much fun it will be to explore a totally new country together! We have so much more to learn about this wonderful world we live in. Ireland is known for its lush greenery, the Cliffs of Moher, sheep everywhere, castles galore, a deep literary culture, shamrocks for the taking, bouncing leprechauns, and delightful Irish pubs full of wonderful Celtic music.”
“You had me at delightful Irish pubs…. It would be an honor to escort you to the Emerald Isle, my Dear. That sounds like the perfect way to celebrate our nifty fifty noteworthy nuptials,” I professed.
“You sure know how to turn a girl’s head with your phraseology, Dear. Let’s book a trip today!”
And that’s exactly what we did. That’s why St. Patrick’s Day has a special meaning this year, because we will be going to the emerald peninsula just north of Mexico…
