I am a huge fan of creating moments when I can even if it means looking like an idiot.

A few months ago I invited my dad to join me for a golf trip to Ireland that I had won at a travel industry conference.  On the third evening, we returned from a pub to the Adare Manor.  As we stumbled to our room in the old castle, we heard people singing on the other side of an old wooden door along the corridor.  There was only one choice to make at that point, and it was to go in for a scotch.  There were forty or fifty travelers swaying to some classic Irish anthems inside so we took a seat and joined them.  After a few songs, the singer asked the audience if anyone wanted to sing a song.  I couldn’t resist the opportunity to shout, “My dad and I would like to play.”  My dad and I play guitar when we are together and always start with Jimmy Buffet’s “Pirate Looks at Forty.”  My dad looked at me like I was crazy and reminded me that these guys were really good and we would not compare to them.  I looked at him and said, “It is our charm that they will remember, not our voices.”

There we stood in front of all these strangers hoping we wouldn’t waste their time or kill their buzz.  I told the story of how we won this trip and that we like to play guitar when we get together but consider ourselves amateurs at best.  We then proceeded to play and by the end of the song, the audience was singing with us and they erupted as I hugged my dad as we finished.

When we sat down, the gentlemen next to us introduced himself and shared his story about losing his father recently and how touched he was to see a father and son sharing an adventure together.  He invited us to be his guest at Ballybunion Golf Club the following day for a round of golf.

Ballybunion is one of the most beautiful golf courses course in the world and has a 2-year waiting list.  It was an amazing day for my dad and I and definitely the high point of the trip.  My dad almost got a hole in one on the 8th hole.  Just to think that it wouldn’t have ever happened if we weren’t willing to take advantage of the opportunity to create a moment that we will always remember.

Anyone else addicted to creating moments?

-Andy