Turning 50, again... third time is a charm.

Well, its been a month since my birthday celebrations, and I have failed to write about my third and final birthday surprise. With all the Christmas activities, then January blahs, I just didn't get to it until today.. but, before I do, please let me recap.

A few days before my 50th birthday, I was surprised by my sister in law, Kelly, from Ottawa.. with a cake and her gift of a weekend visit. She left on Monday, but not before she came to visit me at school to see the BIG surprise that I faced there.. and when I arrived home I was again surprised .. .with a last minute .. "oh before I leave" gift from Kelly of 50 bras decorating my yard!!! The next day, being my actual birthday, I wasn't planning on any more surprises, since it had all be done the day BEFORE my birthday.... But that day was full of many surprises.. including flowers, gifts and a visit to my house by my decorating friend, MY SANDRA, from Moncton and a brand new convection oven, which you can read all about here....

So, after the events of the whole day... I was exhausted... done... no more.... I knew I had a curling pot luck that night and really didn't want to go, but it was our chance to exchange gifts with our team mates, as well as the annual tradition of a fun, cutthroat gift exchange with the whole group of lady curlers. Although, months ago, I was worried that this potluck was landing on my birthday, in the days coming up to it, I was relieved to know that Wendy had forgotten it was birthday, and she wasn't even curling this year. Debbie couldn't be there until later in the night due to an Christmas concert, and most of the ladies there didn't really even know me. So, I was looking forward to a fun evening where "I" was not the center of attention.

It was my turn to drive and I called Patsy to tell her I would pick her up. When I got there at her door, she wasn't ready... "give me 5 minutes" she says.. Well, we were late already and I hate being late.. so while she was upstairs, primping and pruning, I dragged all her stuff to the car.. food, gifts.. etc. FINALLY she runs out to the car and it was 7. It took 5 minutes to get to the club and when we got out of the car.. Patsy darts ahead while I drag all my stuff out of the car. Which, I thought was so weird, and now I understand... but I didn't at the time...

when I arrived into the curling club....LATE... I brought my dish of food right to the table and as I walked there.. the entire group of ladies sang to me... "happy birthday"... I enjoyed the singing, as I had all day... and graciously smiled and gave them a royal wave. I placed the food down, and spotted my team. I went over to them, and started to unpack my entire bag full of gifts and treats... Cricket mentioned that I had a lot of fun pictures.. and I thought she meant on my blog and I chuckled with her and went on unpacking.

Then... Wendy produces an entire ROYAL costume... with crown, cape and scepter... then she spins me around and shows me the display on the window....

Here is the one girl I didn't suspect.... Robin Bradshaw. My long time friend ... my bridesmaid from 27 years ago.. and the window was full of pictures from our days together as single girls... as well as a whole poster of pictures of me.. in many aspects of my life... thanks to Debbie. A huge banner was made... and a wonderful cake with me when I was 20... oh geesh.... How could I have thought I would get away with a 50th birthday without this whole crew planning something. Wendy lied, of course, about not knowing it was my birthday... Debbie truly wasn't there.. which was a shame.. because I know how much work went into the poster and cake.. and she truly did have a concert to attend. She arrived around 9... and we shared a few laughs at all the things that now made sense.! Patsy was late on purpose, so I would be the last one to arrive... Hazel provided the costume from her high school drama closet...


At the end of it all, I am left with the warmest sense of friendship and belonging. I totally know how much work all of these birthday events took. I know how busy everyone is at that time of the year, just a week or so before Christmas. Little things like dragging a huge chair to work in the back of a car, taking time to at night to climb ladders and decorate my office, rushing to work after tearing apart your house to find a costume, buy cakes and 50 candles, planning writing exercises in class in order to make a book for me, writing jokes, teaching kids songs for me, making time in a busy school day to drag your entire class to the office to sing and visit, blowing up balloons... flying from Ottawa, working half the night on a fancy Pea Cake, driving from Moncton and back!, putting together a poster of pictures that were not that easy to find, flowers, treats, ordering cakes, picking them up, making phone calls, rifling through costume closets, having banners made, digging up pictures from the past, putting together my royal curling orb, decorating, cooking, even buying cards... it all takes time, and its such a busy time of the year... I am truly honored and humbled by the lovely attention, be it silly or heartfelt... it all was sooo touching! I love all my family and friends... You all complete me!