The Surprise Party!

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was from the anticipation of  Mom’s upcoming surprise fiesta, but I was also nervous that I wouldn’t be able to manage a piñata the size of Texas, a dozen balloons, two over-sized boxes of Dunkin Donuts, one dozen bagels, two containers of cream cheese, big bags of cups, knives, forks, spoons, two large boxes of coffee and decorations…all alone.

Making a surprise birthday party for my fabulous mother is great dilemma, if one has to have a dilemma.  But the logistics petrified me and I wondered if I could actually pull this party off without a glitch.

So, I called my good friend Debbie and breathlessly told her how nervous I was doing all of this alone and only had thirty minutes to set up the room.

“No problem!” she said with her usual cheery voice. “Tell me when and where and I’ll be there.”

Talk about a voice of reason.  Just what I needed.  I don’t have super human strength, just super-duper ideas and a super friend.  I’m no Wonder Woman…just a girl who wonders, what if?  And now, How to?

First thing in the morning, I picked up all the goodies, ran off to the party store and tried to put twelve balloons in the backseat of my car.  Talk about a Woody Allen moment…the wind picked up, a balloon or two cooperated and remained in my car while the others were balloons gone crazy, flying willy-nilly above, around and below the car, with me, pushing, shoving and using the occasional swear word.  Eventually the car was stuffed and ready to go.

I arrived fifteen minutes early and began unloading all the party stuff and at exactly 9:30…not 9:31, I saw Debbie’s smiling face.  Whew!  What a relief to have not only back-up, but back-up from a friend- a calm friend.

Like two Tasmanian devils, we got that non-descript room put together with zero time to spare.  Fortunately I told my mother the class would begin fifteen minutes late, giving myself and Deb a little extra window of time.

My classmates and Mike Svob, our beloved teacher, arrived and everyone began practicing,  LAS MAÑANITAS  the Mexican birthday song, when suddenly I remembered my mother saying she would text me on the way to class but my phone was still in the car.  Hmmff!  I dashed outside to my car, anticipating her text message, but instead there she was!  Darn!  Why does everyone in my family run on time?  Whatever happened to Spanish time? 

I still had a few things left in the trunk of my car, but oh well!  I couldn’t have her enter the room without me, right?  So, we went hand-in-hand to the class.

As we entered the room, everyone began singing the Happy Birthday song with gusto.  I looked at my mother’s face.  She looked puzzled.  Then shocked…why is the class singing?  Naturally she didn’t recognize the song and then the proverbial light bulb lit above her head as she glanced around the decorated room:  balloons, colorful tablecloths, piñata, tables full of so much food, we could have nourished all the people in Asia…and then it hit her.  The party was for her.

La Reina Suprema ~ Long Live the Queen!

The look on her face was priceless.  Talk about a Kodak moment…but there was a glitch.  My camcorder was missing. Drats!  And then Double Drats!  One for needing it to record such a fun and momentous moment and the Second Drats because, well:  MY CAMCORDER WAS STOLEN OR MISSING!

Thank goodness for technology.  I had my iPad and took some pictures as my mother sat down. When the class finished singing, Carole, a dear classmate noticed that the lyrics were Christian based.

“So, what would we sing to someone Jewish?” she inquired?

Without missing a beat, I chimed in, “Hava Nagilah!”

Everyone laughed.

Meanwhile, Carole Edelsky had cut strips of colorful paper so that each of us could write something thoughtful on the provided pieces of paper.

  Then each person would roll it up and tie a ribbon around the little package.  I had a bowl for those lovely messages and placed it in front of my mother.

Mike Svob

Our sensational, one-helluva-guy and fantastic teacher Mike Svob wrote this lovely note:

I'm a bit of a mischief-maker and love to be playful.  So, in front of my mother's place setting I put a tiara for the elegant woman she is and also a devil's headband for the "rebel" rouser that is part of her DNA along with the following note: SUGAR AND SPICE ~ BUT NAUGHTY AND NICE!

The fiesta was sensational.  My mother was glowing and I can’t remember feeling so happy.

But as it turned out this was only the first of two surprises, which surprised even me.

After the fiesta, I had to work.  Later that afternoon, my two brothers flew in from different states to celebrate her 90^th birthday. The oldest, Bobby-Noogie Champion, Barbie Decapitator and CEO of Teasers International- and Rich-former Mr. Goodie-Two-Shoes arranged to meet at the airport and go directly to see my mother.

While I was teaching, my cell phone rang.  Mom!  Who ignores a call from one’s mother?  Certainly not me.  

When I answered, she said, “Erika’s here!” Granddaughter numero uno with the carrot red hair.  The boys didn’t even tell me about one of my nieces coming to visit.  

Can you imagine how loved my mother felt when her granddaughter flew all the way from Nebraska to see her?

My mother is loved and adored by some very special people.  And that’s what really matters in life.  It’s about the being with people who care enough to want to be with you, even if they have to fly great distances to celebrate and make you feel appreciated.

My mother is one special lady and those who know her or have gotten to know her realize what a treasure she is.

PS. A special thanks to my dear friend Deborah for helping me make a celebration fit for a Queen 

The fabulous Deborah Weiss

and to Mike Svob, (teacher extraordinaire), Carole Edelsky and the entire class for adding to the festivities with your warmth and love!

Carole Edelsky ~ Creative Card Designer 

But most of all, a special thanks to my mother, Helene Goldman for being my mother, my best friend and fun loving mischief-maker...and for being you, the lady I love and adore!  

My mother ~ 90 years of Mayhem!  Long Live The Queen!