A BIG Surprise

Lucy is really big on celebrations. Important dates such as birthdays, anniversaries and the like deserve to be big. The bigger the better. Of course Lucy is anxious to expedite this bigness. She loves being busy making bigness. Her family does not regard this as a virtue.

Around here, June is a really big month for family occasions. Jack's BDay, Carole's BDay, Jack and Carole's anniversary and Father's day fall within 10 days. I believe that justifies four big celebrations but the kids don't even want one. Such wet blankets.

This year I decided to take matters in my own hands. I went behind their backs. I plotted. I schemed. I lied and generally did what I darned well pleased. It was great. I need to do it more often. For 3 weeks I felt like I was back in the business world what with the delegating, strategizing and administrating. (Except for my corn I almost felt like putting on my high heels again---click-click-click down the halls--ah, those were the days...)

Well anyway, the grandkids and rest of the mishpocha all pitched in and we surprised Jack and Carole with a big BDay/anniversary/Fathers' Day bash. Whispered phone conversations, knowing glances, aligning our big, fat stories and keeping Jack and Carole even more in the dark than they usually are was the prime directive. And it worked.

The party was a huge success. Jack and Carole believed they were having a quiet dinner at their favorite Italian restaurant. (Crafty Lucy gave them a gift certificate.) The whole gang was waiting for them in the Pope's Room of Bucca de Beppo and the fun began! Jack was crowned with Monty Python's Tim the Enchanter's horned headdress. Carole was presented with a brand new Punching Rabbi to replace the old one that had migrated to Manhattan. The food was wonderful, the company was better. And I was very proud of myself.

Especially after I paid the check.