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Thanks — good memories! He still talks about it and he’s closing in on 30.

I took him on another surprise trip only by air about the same time. We flew to Orange County to go to the California Speedway in Fontana to see NASCAR or an open-wheel event. I was doing a lot of business travel at the time and I told him “Let’s go to the airport so we can check out the planes.” I secretly gave my boarding passes for the two of us to the boarding agent and we went on board. After a short while, they were closing the doors and the poor boy freaked out — “Dad, we have to GET OFF NOW! They’re closing the doors!” I finally told him it was ok, that we were taking a trip. (I think I had one overnight bag for the two of us and told him I was dropping it off at the airport for a business trip the next week).

Again, he was surprised when we drove up to the huge motor speedway and got to our seats.