A Huge Birthday Surprise

Today is my 73rd birthday. When my son-in-law texted me greetings, he asked what I had planned for my day. I said, “it’s going to be a Kindle day.” It’s 8:30 pm and I only touched the Kindle to move it from the bedroom to the rec room. But it was a day well spent. My sister and I are making pulled pork BBQ for the celebration of life. She found the meat on sale at a nearby grocer so we picked it up. We’ll cook it in crock pots all day Thursday and shred it Friday morning. The children are expecting at least 100 attendees for their father’s memorial. Kim asked for help decorating the hall in red, white and blue since her Dad was a veteran. I picked up the silk flowers we’ll use. Then we went to another grocery store to get ingredients for the strawberry pretzel salad I will also make, a family favorite. I was up at 4:30 so by the time everything was put away, I sat down and looked at a few journals but was asleep within minutes. Brooklyn had asked.what my favorite cake flavor is. I knew that meant she was making me a birthday cake. What I didn’t know was that she had rounded up my entire family to come here for pizza, salad, drinks, cake and ice cream. One SIL had to work, Lauren’s fiancé was still driving home from his long commute and my mother had her Monday night card party. Otherwise, they all arrived at the same time bearing gifts and dinner. Even the young significant others (at the moment) came. I love each one dearly. What a fantastic surprise. Brooklyn made a delicious cake, dark chocolate with fresh strawberries-see extra. She is the youngest grandchild and what a thoughtful young lady. My day couldn’t have been better. Hope you can say the same thing. Stay safe. Thanks for visiting. “I like birthday cake. It’s so symbolic. It’s a tempting symbol to load with something more complicated than just ‘Happy birthday!’ because it’s this emblem of childhood and a happy day.” — Aimee Bender