I woke up feeling like it was Christmas morning. Jumped up,
showered, and woke up Mary Frances. We piled in the car to head to Seaboard to
have lunch with my sister and bring my great niece Molly home with us for the
weekend.
Except……
It was also the day of Mama’s surprise birthday party!
Last year on November 30th, I took Mom to lunch
at Ralph’s in Weldon (her favorite!) and we very serendipitously ran into Ann Scott,
daughter of her best childhood friend Scotty,…so we decided on a redo but to
open it up to other of Mom’s friends. We told Mom my sister and I would be
taking her to lunch at Ralph’s for her birthday.
So I set about keeping a whopper of a secret! Which for me
is p-r-e-t-t-y tricky.
The morning went as planned, with my BP inching upward the
closer we got to noon. I postponed leaving Mama’s house so that I would be
fashionably late…but for once there was NO traffic and ONLY green lights. My
friend Lyndsay gave me a covert call from the restaurant to work out seating
details…she was our restaurant scout and in addition to taking her grandmom and
a couple of friends, she gathered folks together upon their Ralph’s arrival. My
sister was no-where in sight. I almost blew my cover when I asked “Is Elaine
there yet” as who would I asking that too??
Luckily, 87 year olds don’t hear so well.
I bluffed the call off as one about what to buy Lyndsay’s
son for Christmas…..
Then checked in with my sister, who was stranded in a sea of
traffic at the Roanoke Rapids Walmart – where she picked up a cake……so think fast! Think fast…
“Ah…Mom, Elaine’s
running late…..let me get some gas…..”
Another covert call with Lyndsay from behind the gas
pump….Elaine had not arrived….er…
“Mom, there as a
problem with my gas card, I’ve got to go inside…”
So I did. And I stood in one spot. And I texted Lyndsay
continuously….
“Can I help you?”
When I looked up from my phone – three of convenience store
workers stared me down as if I had rubbed myself down with petroleum
products.
I hastily explained my situation and they were so excited
too…
“Where’s your mama? Is that her at pump #4? How old is she? Does she
have any idea there’s a party??”
That last question I didn’t have an answer for….
The next message to my cell alerted me to that fact that
Operation MF Birthday was a go!
Back in the car and across the street to Ralph’s. Of course,
no handicap parking places so we had a little stroll. Casual, casual I kept
telling myself- but I wanted to skip inside!
Once inside we rounded the bend and at the far end of the
room I could see two long tables packed with Mama’s friends. They grinned in anticipation
of her noticing them.
I steered Mama that way…..the Queen Mary gamboled and rolled
on her slow stroll over like the finest luxury liner. No way to rush the grand
dame. The midday sun poured in the window and backlit those gathered – hard to
see who was there….we inched closer…I was so excited…..”see anyone you know?”
 |
| Elaine, Mama, and Me |
Everyone burst into a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" and
for once my mom was at a total loss for words. She couldn't believe it, she had
no idea!!!!
As for me – I was so undone, it was all I could do not to
burst into tears!!!
There were friends from church and Seaboard, my aunt Genie
and cousins Marcia and Shelia, Ann Scott (from Richmond), Ann (Fleetwood)
Edwards (from Wake Forest) and Nancy Ann (Crocker) Tillery. The thing that was
so very special about these 3 Ann is that they are all daughters of 3 of mom’s
dearest friends.
 |
| Ann, Ann Scott, Nancy Ann |
 |
| Shelia, Aunt Genie, Maric |
 |
| Janie and Lyndsay |
 |
| Linda and Cleo |
 |
| Elaine, Alice, and Joseph with the Queen |
.jpg) |
| Estelle and Carol |
It was a boisterous affair – plenty of sweet tea, BBQ,
hushpuppies, gifts and more gifts, a dozen roses from my sister and a gorgeous
chocolate cake frosted with “Happy Birthday Mary Frances”!
Nancy Ann effortlessly did the hostess duties for which I
was profoundly grateful – passing Mom her gifts and cutting the cake. It may
come as no surprise but most of Mom’s gifts involved chocolate, chocolate, or chocolate.
She was thrilled and is currently hiding, hoarding, and rationing these
treasures.
Our waitress, Leigh, was wonderful and also went above and
beyond and we are grateful for her help too!
All told, it was a wonderful surprise party – and at 87 years
old, Mam's first ever. She kept remarking all weekend that she had no idea. As we walked
out of Ralph's she asked me…..
“Did you know about this?”
Well, yes, Mama, I did!!
