In this world, there are two kinds of people: those who can be surprised, and those who surprise. My husband is a surprisee. I threw a surprise party for him more than twenty years ago. He saw the guest list. The day of the party, he saw the refreshments and completely bought the story that they were for a Relief Society activity. HE WAS TOTALLY SURPRISED. Since that time, he has been successfully surprised on more than one occasion.
I, on the other hand, am a surpriser. I can surprise others, but not the other way around. As I tell you this, I am picturing you thinking about how you are plotting to prove me wrong. In short, I am ALWAYS expecting the surprise. And it never comes. I can figure out what gifts are--whatever the occasion--without even trying. In fact, it is when I try NOT thinking about it that I have the most success in figuring it out. I'm not saying I enjoy this quality about myself, I am just saying that that is the way it is. I cannot be surprised.
Until today.
I am far from home, visiting my daughter and her family. My husband had asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I had no answer. I told him that he could take me out to dinner next week when I get home.
Today there was a knock on my daughter's door, and she answered it and then came into the room holding a vase of flowers. I thought how sweet that someone would send her flowers, and asked her who they were from. She said that they were for me. I was stunned. Mind you, every year for Mother's Day and for the birthdays of my mother and mother-in-law, I send them flowers. And tomorrow is MY birthday. Still, I never expected it. I must be losing my touch in my old age.
Its great to be the surprisee for a change. Thanks, my love.
Woooo! Go Dad!
ReplyDeleteMOTHER I HAVE READ THIS POSTING KAY BYE
ReplyDeleteNice, Andrew.
ReplyDeleteMom, there's three types of people, remember? Those who are surprised, those who do the surprising, and those who are no good at either.
I always figure out surprises before they happen, so I'm never surprised, AND I'm terrible at keeping happy secrets so I've rarely successfully surprised someone else. For example, today Ben and I discussed the possibility of not telling anyone we're pregnant (assuming we get pregnant soon, because as of right now I've got nothing) until Christmas, and having people find out in their Christmas card. The trouble with this? Even being hundreds of miles away from my nearest relation will not prevent me from spilling the beans. That, and now people will be expecting it because I already said it here.
*sigh*