Except for that "ONE BIG THING"

Keith turned 50 on Friday.  On Thursday as he was leaving for work I reminded him that Friday was his 49th birthday (with conviction).  And, I took my child down with me.  Yes, we both looked him in the face and convincingly lied... telling him we were clueless it was really his 50th birthday (and cracking up laughing as he closed the door in disgust).

We weren't clueless, but some might say he was.

I cooked half the day on Thursday and all day Friday to pull off a dinner party for 10 Friday night - planned a month in advance.  When he walked into the house Friday after work, his best guy friends and their wives were there.  We gathered around a table for dinner of tossed salad, Italian chicken noodle soup, lasagna, garlic bread and a trio of desserts.  One friend said a beautiful prayer for Keith's life; another gave a heartfelt toast that turned mid-way into a loving roast.  Later we adjourned to the parlor (yes, this is the 1800's) and played Apples to Apples. About the time the party was breaking up, we egged Keith on to streak Main Street to make his 50th birthday even more memorable.  Well, he did a semi-streak to the gleeful horror of the women at the party. It was a great night, even if I didn't have a torch to "brule", so it ended up just "creme". (I didn't serve it, but every once in a while I go in and take a big spoon full.... heaven!)

The party continued on Saturday -- with the boys, his family, "our people" and some more of his people.  The ploy was set.  I'd leave at noon (with a big 'ole pot of frosting - and no questions as to "what's that?" -- hmmm, clueless?) to take Harrison to get ready for the bowling birthday party he was attending from 1-3. And, Keith would pick him up at 3. Except that I should have told him more than twice.  I should have texted him at 1 after I "supposedly" dropped Harrison off.  I didn't. The party was front and center in my mind, and seriously, how could he forget his son? 

I had sent a reminder to the confirmed 50 guests "he's early to everything; so if you want to be there for the surprise, try to arrive by 2:45 p.m." Note to self: he's early to everything he remembers. He did not remember.  At 3:05 p.m. when he still wasn't there, I sent a text "how did Harrison enjoy his party?" 


Thankfully he had showered and dressed for the night after a morning of insulting our bathroom under construction. And, thankfully he hadn't made it upstairs to take that nap he was planning. Instead of napping, he bolted out of his chair, down the stairs and into his car, scaring to death the neighbor walking by as he did a u-turn on Main Street and scrambled to the bowling alley. 10 minutes late to pick up his son.....rather, to his own party!

S - U - R - P - R - I - S - E!!!  

He was surprised.  The folks he works with told me he snickered and sneered all day Thursday and Friday. "She's at home fretting trying to figure out how to pull something together now for my birthday."  Ha Ha.... gotcha!

It was a great weekend.  Everyone deserves to have so much attention lauded upon them for one weekend of their life.  

Thankfully "our people" helped to make it a great one.

Love you Keithie!