Speechless

My birthday is not always my favorite time. This year left me speechless. Last week I had suggested by hubby that a Nook was my birthday present wish. I even got the brochure and suggested a few covers. Sure enough he said to keep my eye out for parcels addressed to him while he was away. And I did -- lo and behold a smallish box arrives from Barnes & Noble and I put it on top of the mail. The night before my birthday two flatish B&N boxes are on the kitchen table with instructions to open. As I open the larger of the two, he says - now this isn't from me. So with scathing glance I say the usual - so did you give Zed (the yorkie) your credit card? The gift was from from two of my children. And the cover from Bruce was perfect - it was actually what I had really wanted but to be fiscally responsible had suggested a more reasonble cover.

But there were more surprises on the way. Last week my friend Betty had said that we were getting together with friends on Saturday for dinner because of everyone's work schedules. That was great! But Friday after work, no call from my friend to go to the pool or even get together for dinner at her house. Bruce is suggesting just two of us have dinner at a place we frequently go. After putting my sulk away and checking his behavior closely for suspicious comments, I thought oh what the heck let's go where he wants for dinner.

But wait -- there is one more piece to the surprise! Earlier in the week my son texted that he would come over for dinner on Friday on his way home from being out of town. I had told Bruce we would be either eating in or going to a new organic restaurant if Pete came. Then I get a message that maybe it would be lunch on Saturday, the project was running late, etc. This of course freed up Friday to do something else.

To wrap up this story - we arrive at the location and walk into the tiny bar restaurant and it is full. I think now what - and being slightly dense don't even look at who is there until I hear someone call my name. All three couples were there! Bruce had arranged for a table in the dining room - spacious and quiet so we could all talk! It was great and I was truly surprised and honored everyone could adjust schedules to be there at the end of a long work week. Bruce keeps looking at his BBerry and I give him the evil-eye of no texting at the table. And then as the salad is being cleared someone comes in and gives me a hug. I thought it would be someone we know wishing me a happy birthday, but no -- my son had made the drive halfway across the state and arrives for dinner. (This is where I start to sniffle so no more story)

So thank you to everyone who posted on my facebook page, everyone who conspired to keep this a secret, everyone who adjusted schedules and came to celebrate, thank you to Jade for being understanding that Pete would be gone an extra day, thank you to grandsons who called and sang happy birthday. This fills up my 'loved' jar and it will fuel me for a long time.

What is clever quickly becomes obsolete

We were driving up to West Virginia when I noticed a big blue sign letting drivers know to call the State Police for roadside assistance at *SP. It got me thinking about all of the companies and organizations that paid for numbers that spelled out something like "Call 1-888-HOPE" What has changed? My phone doesn't have a regular keyboard with the number/letter keys, neither does my home phone. It takes me some forever to figure out the real number. It was a good idea while it lasted but it is time to move on - just give me the number!

Maybe my next blog will be on the progression from phone boxes along the highway to dial *SP. Anybody besides me remember the phone boxes on the Jersey turnpike?