Blog

I am so far behind with my blog posts!  My best intentions were to add more images from my trip to the Four Corners, as I’ve some nice images; images from the 4th of July (that’s now long enough over with to nix); add images from a new quilt that I’m now blocking for an exhibit that will be in Botswana; do a short video on a project I hope to have online — that is, some free digital video lessons; and post some butterfly pictures.  Instead, I’m adding a post about the recent surprise party we gave my mom for her 75th birthday.

So, last weekend was mom’s 75th surprise birthday party given by her family.  It was a perfect surprise.  She had absolutely no idea! So, how did I keep the surprise?  By putting the party in plain sight!  The party was Saturday night, but one day over pizza I suggested we have a party for her on Sunday, the 18th, the day of her actual birthday.  At first she seemed disappointed in that I suspect she wanted a surprise party.  Once she warmed to the idea, she took out a piece of paper and started making a list of what we needed to buy!  I had to stop her from buying food for the party, causally saying that my sister and I would take care of it (all while my heart was racing).

She asked if I ordered the cake, and I told her I did.  When she offered to come over to help get her birthday cake on Saturday, I jumped on it.  She actually came with me to pick it up along with other stuff. Little did she know that the party was that day. Rich and I could hardly look at each other for fear that we’d start laughing.

I practically wrote a script for everyone to follow.  When we got home from getting the cake, Rich was to moan he was hungry.  I was to suggest pizza.  He was to moan he didn’t want pizza.  I was to say I wasn’t that hungry.  We were to look at each other, somewhat exasperated.  And, just as I thought, mom took the bait.  She suggested we go to the restaurant in downtown Hightstown where we could split a burger and Rich could get what he wanted.  Bingo.  The party was at that restaurant!  I said, “Okay.  We can go there.”

Everyone knew to park in the back.  As Rich kept mom’s attention, I sent a text to my sister alerting her that we were in the parking lot.   We generally sit outside.  However, Rich knew what to say.  “It’s too hot to sit outside, let’s sit inside.”  Next, when inside we generally sit on the side of the bar so that we can watch the Giants or Yankees.  However, the waitresses were ready.  As we started to walk in that direction, our waitress stopped us.  “We’re cleaning that side, so let me sit you on the other side.”  Everyone was hiding behind a menu.  As we walked over, I somewhat blocked mom.  Then I stepped to her side, the menus dropped, and everyone shouted “Surprise.”

One surprised mama!

Mom’s eyes widened, her mouth dropped open, and nearly fell backwards.  It took her a couple minutes to realize what was going on.  My brother and sister-in-law from California, mom’s last surviving brother and his wife, and two of mom’s nieces and my cousin’s husband were there.  It was great!

Mom and my Uncle Bill, mom's brother.

Mom, her four children, three grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Dad was there in spirit.

Mom said to me that all she wanted for her birthday was a picture of her family.  With tripod ready, my sister and I took plenty of photos. Between both of us, mom has a lot of photos from the party at the restaurant and the cake party at mom’s house.  I printed one of the group pictures, framed it, and took it over on Sunday, her actual birthday.

Mom’s present was an iPad.  Unfortunately, all of the Apple stores in this area were out of stock.  Although I pleaded with the Apple rep when ordered it on the 5th, it wasn’t shipped until the 20th (yes, she has it now and is in love with it).  I got her a book which was signed with everyone’s name.  I wrapped it with a puzzle book on top.  After she looked at the puzzle book, she assumed the next book was another puzzle book.  We all watched and waited for her to realize what her present was.  She looked at me.  “A ipod?”  No.  “It doesn’t say ipod.”  She looked at it again, then looked up.  “An iPad?  You got me an iPad?”  Yes!  A great gift, if I do say so myself!!  It was a very happy birthday for mom!

This entry was posted on Friday, July 23rd, 2010 at 11:40 pm and is filed under Misc. Personal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.