BS: We got surprised last night

Subject: BS: We got surprised last night
From: jimmyt
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 08:34 AM

Jayne and I went out to dinner with three other couples that we have known for 20 years. When we got home our street we full of cars. "Well, there's another damn party we weren't invited to," I retorted, my standard line when I ever see an assembly of people. (it is one of my pseudo-clever but always annoying quips,) We pulled up andI asked the other couple who had driven us if they would like to come in and finish the bottle of red wine we had started earlier. As we got out I noticed candles lit in our house and I thought my daughter and son-in-law were home. As we walked in, 45 people yelled "Surprise" Somehow it had never occurred that it was so close to our anniversery.

We have been married 35 years. Our three children planned the whole thing and our friends were in on it also, getting us away from the house for enough time to get the food and decorations in. My daughters had sent a bunch of photos of the last 35 yrs to a friend who put them on a video complete with background music and fantastic editing, and it played all evening on TV for the folks who wanted to see how many variations of facial hair I have had since the 60s

They had hired a pianist from Atlanta who played wonderful show tunes and standards, many of the crowd were theater people or musicians and there was a steady stream of performers singing a song ot two. What a wonderful and complete surprise from our three kids.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 08:58 AM

It's nice when somebody cares enough to plan you a surprise, sounds like you enjoyed it, so well done the kids.
Happy Anniversary
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Amos
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 09:54 AM

Well done to them, and to whoever brought them up to be so thoughtful; and even more so, to you and the Missus for building a 35-year marriage.

I am at 25.8 and just getting my second wind, so watcgh out I don't catch up to you!


A

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Sorcha
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 09:59 AM

Well, I'm glad you thought it was nice, but I'd kill ours if they did that.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 10:01 AM

What a wonderful surprise to come home too and well done for 35 years of married like.Congratulations from South Wales,UK.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 10:19 AM

That's a wonderful story, Jimmy! So glad you thought to share it with the rest of us.

I think you must have done pretty darn well to have brought up kids to do something so lovely for you and your wife. You are truly blessed.

May you have many decades more together!!

..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Micca
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 10:25 AM

Hi Jimmy , Happy anniversary Mate, masy all the wine be Burgundy (if its not Port) and Vintage at that!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 10:30 AM

Great! Congratulations to both of you for being able to put up with each other that long!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: MBSLynne
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 10:35 AM

Congratulations Jimmy! Both on the anniversary and on your nice family!

Love Lynne

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 11:22 AM

Congrats Jim, Happy Anniversary. Hope to talk to you more on the Cat soon...

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 12:16 PM

Great stuff, Jim! Congratulations to you and your blushing boss, er... bride .... er, partner. 35 years, WOW!! I am so happy you shared this with us.

May the worst day of the rest of your life, be no worse than your best day so far.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 12:17 PM

What a wonderful gift! Many blessings!

Allison

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: SINSULL
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 12:20 PM

Wow! i HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A SURPRISE PARTY BEING A SURPRISE. cONGRATULATIONS ON THIRY FIVE YEARS AND CHILDREN WHO LOVE YOU.
dAMN cAPSLOCK!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 12:37 PM

I'm with Sorcha on this. The very thought of a surprise party like that makes my blood run cold, and that'd go for my wife too.

But it was a very nice thought, and they obviously knew you would be all right with it, so good on them.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: KT
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 01:18 PM

Congratulations to both of you! What a sweet way to celebrate!

KT

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Peace
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 01:27 PM

That is a neat story, Jimmy. Thanks for sharing it. Congratulations to you and yer missus on the 35.

PS, You may STILL be logged into the Chat Room. Might want to check that, buddy.

Bruce M

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 01:46 PM

Congrats Jimmyt..Best wishes mate, Mike.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: CarolC
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 02:05 PM

That's great, jimmyt! Happy aniversary to the both of you.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Morticia
Date: 14 Nov 04 - 03:16 PM

Do we get to see the Anniversary Thong? Congrats to both of you, your wife must be a very patient woman *G*.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: dianavan
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 01:41 AM

After 35 years you probably thought nothing could surprize you!

Congratulations - You're the lucky ones.

d

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: MBSLynne
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 05:47 AM

Gosh Jimmy, you must have been young when you got married!!!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Jeanie
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 06:15 AM

Many congrats, me ol' china !

- jeanie

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Dead Horse
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 10:48 AM

I hope you didnt miss the opportunity to "push" your thongs?

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 10:53 AM

As I started reading the first post I was afraid the punch line was going to be that the house burned down or something. Nice that it was a surprise party! (I hope the kids also helped clean the house before and AFTER the party!)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: jimmyt
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 11:22 AM

They did SRS. We left at 5:55 for dinner and they descended on it 6 strong. They had been cooking all afternoon at one of our friends' house. My youngest daughter, Carrie spent the summer at Le Cordon Bleu in their Patisserie course and she does some catering so the food was absolutely out of this world. They cleaned up all the dishes and put the many many wine bottles in recycling. It was, all in all, quite a nice gathering andI am still so amazed at how Jayne and I managed to raise three decent, wonderful children to adulthood with never a problem. I have thought about writing a book called Childrearing by Skillful Neglect.

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: jimmyt
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 11:39 AM

DeadHorse, I really should have pushed the thong line, I know I could have generated some good business contacts, but I decided to take a night off!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 06:19 PM

Well that explains your being logged into the chat for 6 hours and not saying a word!! Did you have much to catch up on?!

I LONG for parties like that.... no-one ever does them for me though... sniff sniff, sob sob.....

Glad you enjoyed it, 35 years eh? Don't get that for manslaughter these days.... you going to give her time off for good behaviour? She must be a saintly woman!

Take care, both of you, and enjoy the next 35 years!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: freda underhill
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 07:28 PM

that's fantastic, what a great surprise, jimmyt! your kids must adore you and your wife to go to such trouble to give you and amazing evening. to have a happy marriage and loving kids, you have obviously been a great husband and father - congratulations!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: Mudlark
Date: 15 Nov 04 - 09:18 PM

Congrats all the way around! And thanks for sharing such a feel-good story...

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: LadyJean
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 01:10 AM

I missed a surprise birthday party friends gave me one year.
But happy anniversary, and many many many more!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: jimmyt
Date: 16 Nov 04 - 11:13 PM

The photos of the party are under photos, jimmyt section, scroll past the three of my groups and there is one of Jayne and me, one of us with our lead singer and the last of my kids and spouses who put this on for us. Again, thanks for all the kind words, You all are terrific. jimmyt

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: GUEST,janey
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 01:25 PM

Ah Bless and congratulations. Have just been nosey and looked at the photos. Were you in "A Mighty Wind"? If not, I think you should have been!

Subject: RE: BS: We got surprised last night
From: jimmyt
Date: 17 Nov 04 - 11:27 PM

Janey, We have had the bst time with A Mighty WInd. My quartet formed in 1963 and played together (without me) until 66 when they all were off to different colleges, I got wit hthem in 2002 for a revival and we perform together ( in matching shirts) guite a bit for Class reunions etc, They love the old Kingston Trio et al stuff and I havea bif time playing it and singing it with them,