Turnabout's fair play

Ok, I’m going to time-travel a little bit and relay a story from a month ago I keep meaning to tell but keep forgetting to. My fantastic dad had a milestone birthday in May. Seeing as how I have vacation days to take but no one around here to take them with on a regular basis, I thought my family and friends in Tennessee was a pretty good reason to take a day off. (Not bemoaning my circumstances; just explaining.) I have to back up for one moment and tell the best birthday present I ever got.

Nathan & I moved to Kansas City in January of 2001. I was getting homesick for my family by July. My birthday is in August. We found an apartment and everything was fine. Towards the middle or end of July, Nathan said we ought to look into buying a couch. I was fine with that, so we went shopping. He really wanted a sleeper sofa for some reason. That was fine. I didn’t understand, but I didn’t object. We found a couple but they were going to take up to eight weeks to be delivered. I didn’t care, but Nathan said that was too long. Let me interject – I was oblivious. I am kind of dense and don’t put two and two together very well sometimes. So, we finally find a satisfactory, affordable, sleeper-sofa that can be delivered in a timeframe that satisfies Nate. All’s well.

My birthday rolls around and he has bought me a gift certificate for a facial at a spa. I was pretty excited. I go & have my facial. Then I was supposed to go get my driver’s license. (It expired on my birthday.) I called him & asked if he wanted me to swing by and pick him up on my way to the DMV and then we could just leave from there to go to lunch. He said no, just do the DMV then come back. I had no reason to object or suspect anything. So I went to the DMV, got the license, then got back to the apartment. I didn’t see Nathan’s car in the parking lot, so I was a little confused. I open the door and he’s standing in the hall with the camera in his hands ready to take my picture. I was incredibly confused until I looked over to my left and saw my mom & dad standing in our kitchen! He surprised me by having my parents fly in for my birthday. He borrowed a van from some relatives to tote them around. He picked them up from the airport while I was getting my facial. I was given my family as a present. Needless to say, I was speechless. I was so giddy it was ridiculous. After I got over the shock, I suggest we ALL go to lunch. Dad said, “why don’t you open your present first?” I said, “No, I’ll open it when we get back.” He said, “I really think you should open it now.” I agreed. They told me it was in the guest room. I open the door and my brother & sister-in-law are standing there! Now the sleeper-sofa and larger vehicle finally make sense to me. I was given even more family as a present. So, that was the best gift I ever got.

Back to the present (well, May of 2009 at least.) I told Mom a few months ago I’d like to come home for Dad’s birthday. Then we decided to see if we could pull it off as a surprise. I bought my ticket in February and tried to keep my mouth shut. It wasn’t easy and I made a couple of slip-ups. But Dad didn’t notice or pick up on it. (I come by my obliviousness honestly, at least!) J I was trying to think of a way to make it so he wouldn’t have a clue. I suggested Mom take Dad out to breakfast for his birthday and pick me up at the airport afterwards. My flight was scheduled to land around 8:30 so Mom said, “Why don’t we pick you up on the way TO breakfast?” This did make more sense. But there’s no restaurant out by the airport that Mom would take Dad to. So we decided to get even sneakier. We had someone else pick me up and take me to the restaurant Mom would take Dad to – keep him off-guard as long as possible.

Dad tells Mom the Monday of his birthday week that he has a meeting on Friday, his birthday with a couple of guys. We were afraid we would have to spill the beans. But Mom kept her cool and told Dad she wanted to take him to breakfast on his birthday before all the craziness ensued and would he schedule it for mid-morning and at least let her do that. He, of course, agreed. So, the plan was back on. Friday morning rolls around. The plane lands. And I called Dad as I was disembarking to “wish him a happy birthday before he gets too busy throughout the day and what with the party that night and all…” I tell him about the weather we’re having in Kansas City. All the typical stuff. I throw in a little “I hope your present gets there today. I’m really bad at timing the mail. You’ll have to let me know when you get it…” I was feeling very excited and proud of myself. I knew I was going to pull it off!

I get picked up and we arrive at the restaurant. I wander around the dining area, rolling luggage in tow, looking for Mom and Dad. They weren’t there yet. So my ride and I crouch behind some souvenirs and trinkets in the gift shop watching the door. They arrived shortly thereafter. Mom knows we’re here and tells Dad she needs to run to the restroom. Dad offers to go get a table but Mom asks him to wait. Mom leaves. Dad is standing not two feet away looking through stuff. I straighten up, walk around the display corner, and just stand there for a moment. Dad turns and sees me. For a moment, he has the look on his face of “I’m trying to reconcile my worlds. That looks like my daughter but I’m pretty sure I’m in Nashville and I’m pretty sure she’s not here.” His jaw dropped as a huge smile came. I wished him a happy birthday again and gave him a huge hug. It was one of the few times I’ve seen my father rendered speechless. Throughout breakfast, he had this absolutely precious stunned by happy smile. I can relate. I had that same look on my face throughout lunch about 8 years earlier. I got to give my dad his family as a present.

Turnabout’s fair play. :)