Dear Desmond,

your daddy was born in Ireland, and moved here to America when we was a small boy. Here is the story of how it all happened.

18 years ago today when I was a weee lad, my family packed our bags and set sail for the new world leaving Ireland behind us. We sold all our belongings. Mamo sold her favorite teapot, Pop’s sold his favorite fishing rod and potato, your Auntie Jenn sold her favorite Barbie Ferrari and Kylie Minogue cassette tape, and your Daddy sold his favorite Star Wars everything! and his favorite goat, I loved that goat.

We made our way to the docks, where our ship awaited. Her name was the Crytanic, they named her this, because everyone that ever boarded cried as they left their home land. It was handcrafted by many a drunk irishman, and glued together with mashed potatoes and peas. She was a beauty. As we left the port of Shannon, we could hear the sounds of Leprechauns, Fairies and Nana crying because the Hogans were leaving Ireland, we waved and hugged each other as we sailed off through a sea of shamrocks and into the sunset.

The trip was a long one, we ate spuds and soda bread for days on end. It was a good thing they had hot tea, or we all would have died on that ship. The seas were rough, I lost my spuds a few good times, but we held on, for America was close, and soon we could eat some McDonald’s, because this was our reason for leaving Ireland. It was all about the BigMac. I have moved on to Whoppers now, because whoppers are for big boys. One day you will understand. Little did I know that also one day I would marry the American Girl of my dreams, but she would frown upon my American Dream of BigMac’s and Fries. Your mom is a strange American woman, she does not eat meat. But one day when you are older, you will understand the power of love and what you are willing to do for it. (Don’t worry me and  you will eat whoppers).

Anyway, I am getting off track. When the Crytanic landed in Warner Robins, GA (don’t ask me what port, I think its closed now) we were so excited! But Desmond, the excitement faded when I realized that American’s had no sense of color for the outside. Everything was brown and dead. The color green did not seem to exist! I had never seen brown grass before. I cried, and ran back to the boat, I wanted to go home, but it had already sailed away down the I-75 river. I was stuck here in the land of the brown. I missed my goat.

Ohh but don’t worry Desmond, things changed and got better. I made new friends, sure they were not leprechauns or fairies (ok some where, but a different kind). I met your mom, I had my family. Today America is now home for us, 18 years is a long time, but it feels like yesterday. One day I will take you to Ireland, and we will hunt for treasure, dig for gold, find a leprechaun, and chase a goat. I will show you what I left behind so that I could find your mom, and also find you. You see Desmond, your my little Ireland, your my little leprechaun, and you are the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

And that is how and why we moved to America! :)
The End.