Sunday, January 28, 2007

Obvious and Oblivious Only Differ by Two Letters

You notice least what is around you the most. And even when those things have a speckle of difference, they pass unbeknownst to us unless we are looking closely for them.

• Late night phone calls home when you’re out of town and your spouse doesn’t answer.
• Trips to pick up prescriptions that take 90 minutes.
• A friend who hasn’t come to town for 15 months suddenly comes to stay for the weekend.
• You attend a brunch (by yourself) and it seems last much longer than it should.
• A Saturday of missing your partner in the house and only receiving notes instead.
• Phone calls to friends that go directly to voice mail.
• Your son’s moms need some bookcases moved precisely at 3:30. They feed you and then hurriedly send you home.
• Lights on in rooms that shouldn’t be as you arrive home.
• No parking spots anywhere as you arrive and you have to park in front of the neighbors.

You open the door and ….

Surprise.

Holy Shit.

The Saturday before my birthday and they totally got me.

Totally.

In case you didn’t know (um, like me), I had a surprise 40th birthday party last night. It was a small, intimate gathering of a few friends and family from different points in my life; a smorgasbord of those I love.

The whole evening, I waffled between being utterly shocked at the gathering and utterly shocked at my own ignorance. For years, I had written off the thought of ever having a surprise party… or more precisely, ever BEING surprised by a surprise party. I would tell people, “There’s no way Larry could ever do it. He’s just not that good and I totally catch everything.”

Well, we have chances in our life to eat crow and mine was last night. But I could not think of a better way to do it.

Surrounded by my family and friends, my son and I blew out two candles; one that was a ‘4’ and one that was a ‘0’. Watching the smile on his face and looking at those around me, I realized I don’t care what age I am… as long as all of them are by my side.

Thanks for the best birthday a guy could have.

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15 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Almost Birthday!

6:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That's fantastic! Happy birthday! I'm so happy you were surprised - that takes a lot to pull off, and you don't miss a thing!

6:56 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congratulations! And welcome to the club. I hit forty this past summer. Now we are real grown ups. Sounds like you had a great party.
Happy Birthday!!

And thanks for your kind words.

9:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday guy. This was my birthday weekend and it was my son that really made it special.

It sounds like a lot of fun.

11:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Happy Birthday (a few days early)! Sounds like you had a great time!

11:51 PM  
Blogger Peter said...

Happy Birthday!

9:07 AM  
Blogger Papa Bradstein said...

Happy (early) Birthday!

And congratulations to Larry for pulling off the surprise.

9:41 AM  
Blogger Daddy Cool said...

Aaaaaw, happy birthday! I'll be joining you in just a few short months.

10:26 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That sounds so fun!

(At first I was worried Larry was cheating on you.)

Happy birthday.

10:47 AM  
Blogger Stepping Over the Junk said...

I rarely hear of those actually getting pulled off!! Awesome! I am totally cracking up at the sight of someone having brunch by themselves looking around going "where the heck is everybody?" and being all lonely and stuff and then later on with the party being like "OOOOOH!"

4:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, Happy Birthday, my friend! You don't look a day over 42!

12:21 PM  
Blogger Lola and Ava said...

Okay . . . Sarah said it first, but you and Larry are one of the most stable couples I know! Happy birthday! All that moisterizer must pay off . . . I'll be there in about 2.5 years (when my girls turn 18).

Ava

4:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Steve enters his 5th decade... Happy Birthday, my dear OLD friend!

8:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Congrats and happy b-day! My 40th is coming up next year and I am so not anxious for that to happen.

So, they totally got you! Ha! I honestly don't think LA Mommy could pull it off. I would be highly suspicious at even a month before the big day.

5:16 PM  
Blogger Kevin & Kristy's First Home said...

Happy 40th Birthday Steve!

9:15 PM  

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