Do You Know Me?

       I have to ease into things, the thought of a surprise birthday party is not on my list of fun things to do. I do not like anything that says, "Boo" or "Happy Birthday". Even as a child, I did not want to be surprised!!! However, my three girls decided differently, and I was the lucky recipient of the surprise of my life.
     They told me for weeks that we were eating at Hart and Nicole's house to celebrate my birthday and dad's retirement from Georgia Tech. Hamburgers, hot dogs, sounds like a picnic, right? Emma kept telling me to dress a little nicer, since we were all together, we would probably take a family photo. Not hire a photographer nice, just throw on a dress nice.
      So that is what I did, throw on a dress straight from the pool, hair chlorine and ponytail, perfect!!!
Of course I had on lipstick, but people I was not going to the prom. ( Next day I got dressed for brunch, cute shirt and open shouldered blouse, and Emma said, " That is what you should have worn to the party!")  Well if I had known about the party, I may have dolled up a bit more, but no the lips were sealed for months, I find out.
     Bill and I were driving up to their house, and I mentioned all the cars, wondering who was having a party on my party day. Did not connect the dots!! I walk in the door, and my son Brian is standing with camera in hand, taking a video of me entering the room. I think I may have said, "What is wrong with you son?" Then I realized there were more phones facing my way, ( I had on sunglasses) and it hit me, "Oh No, this is terrible, OMG they did not pull this off over me!! I see BA, Jane(worm), Nancy, I think I start to cry, I hate this!!! Leigh-Leigh, Jesus, who all is here, Susan, Chris Shearer ( I love him so much) The Purwins!! Jesus you just moved to Charleston, Natty, Laura, Gemma, Ashley Baer OMG what kind of crazy is this, my heart bursting at the seams. I missed Malia and Ken walking in, and spouses scattered about, Jamie came in after the shock wore off. Every where my head turned, there was someone I loved, and played an important part in my life. My cup was FULL UP!! flowing with gratitude for the girls getting these people together, for me and Bill.( he knows I don't like to share, but he piggybacked my party and it was OK!! He deserves it!) He did know who the star of this party was!!! and let me have my shine time. ( he is a good man)
     ( If I forgot your name, know that I am old and its a part of being 65 and near insanity!!)
     ( and people should never surprise me)
  It was the most fantastic party, with all my favorite southern foods, and cotton candy snacks!!
  A gathering of family and friends, extraordinaire. Of course there were missing faces, that could not come, and they have to know, the walked with me trough this party. No stoned was left unturned, there were stories on top of stories. My faced is still sore from laughing.
   The gifts Bill and I received were not expected, because I did not even know about the party, but oh what fun we had opening them. The crazy bell, that I will hide from my husband, who knows he could NEVER ring for me to answer!! My bowl from David, which I will most certainly never put it down, He is an artist in woodwork, and I love it. So many people gave me jewelry, books and journals. I get a kick out of being so transparent!! My lipstick, beautiful pottery, coffee and movie gift cards, Watercolor magazine subscription, I can not list everything. Someone said, " This is sooo Bonnie!" Well, they are correct, my people know me. Everything was over the top, fun. Jane Worm Anders Ruffin, gave me photos of our early twenties, one with Scott Carter and myself, from almost forty years ago. We had just told the story of how I thought he was the best dancer ever, and I did not want Jane to ever break up with him. She did at some point but on my 65 birthday night, we salute you Scott Carter. ( Even though BA reminded us he was bat shit crazy) ( Man that can dance trumps BSC) I tucked the photo into my bra and danced the night away in my head, not on the floor this time!
 My Hart put on the first original Beatles album of mine on his record player, and we all grabbed our chest and started singing. These people knew my tunes. Our lives woven together over the years, in so many wonderful ways, long and brief. Thank you for taking the time to come scare the Jesus out of me, and make my day.
     And for the party planners, Thank you so much for everything, and don't ever do that again, without 911 pre-dialed, This night was perfect.
     I am surrounded by artists, writers, teachers, doctors, engineers, musicians, mothers and fathers, actors of TV and Theater, runners and tennis players. People who serve others, who make a difference, those are my gifts.
     Mary and Homer, Trudy, Benjie and Tommy are my beginning,where the stories began.
     They are a huge part of the person, you all love so much, that you came to my shindig.
     So Happy 65th Blackman Family for loving me so much, that I now can share that love with so many wonderful people.
     Know that I can not put into words, how much fun this was, awesome, fantastic, but the above are a few that came to mind.
      I guess you do know me!!
      Thank You
      Thank You
      Thank You