September is one of the busiest birthday months in my little circle. I just did the math and it seems that as soon as a baby is born someone in the family starts on another because June is the next busiest birthday month. There is no truth to what I’m saying even if there is some logic to it. It just seems that way.
In any event, I just returned from what will become a lasting memory for me and for those I love. My sister, who shall remain nameless for the world because she can’t believe her age yet, (her name begins with J) is turning 70 this month and I couldn’t stand the idea that I wasn’t going to share and honor our seventy years together. There are a number of legitimate reasons that I couldn’t go to Chicago. Laura, her daughter, was cajoling me into using a buddy pass that she could obtain through her airline job. I managed to rush to completion a major issue of the construction process I’m dealing with. A window of time evolved when the family was going to be together for the holiday from which I could escape from the workmen.
I told Laura. She got right on it and checked all the possible flights out of Las Vegas. She promised not to breathe a word to anyone about our plans. Using a buddy pass means your travel standby, which doesn’t always get you to your destination in a timely manner. That could have botched our plans. In fact I had to wait for the third, actually fourth, flight out to get to Chicago on time for the dinner. I arrived at the airport early enough to get on the flight that was scheduled before my scheduled ticket, but they had already rolled over about a dozen people. Needless to say the hope of getting to Chicago was diminished by each departure that left without me. To make matters worse, I had the witch of the north to deal with at the counter. She had the nerve, when I had a legitimate question, to put her closed sign up when I appeared in front of her after standing in line. From that insult I had the sense to go to another counter for information and advice. It must be clear from the start that I arrived in good time and I’ll state here that the flight back to Las Vegas went flawlessly, first flight out.
By the time I deplaned we were sure to be a little late for dinner. Laura picked me up. While driving I suggested that she call to give some excuse for her tardiness. She thought that would upset my sister more than the wait, finishing her reason with” she’ll call me if she’s worried”. We were about two blocks from the house when Laura’s phone rang. By then it was easy to say “ almost at the door “.
For the entire preceding month the family was asking me to come in for the holiday and to be with my sister. I just couldn’t commit. They all gave up on me. That helped to keep the surprise alive. I had planned my entrance before I got to Chicago. As we approached the house Laura gave me a sweater to put over my head and I slumped down so it didn’t look like another passenger was in the car just in case someone was looking out the window. She went ahead which caused the focus of attention to be on her arrival. After a minute I got out of the car and called my sister from my cell phone. Because her attention was on getting everyone seated and served she was somewhat anxious to get off the phone. I was relentless. While talking I had already entered the house, luckily most everyone was on another level of the house and didn’t see me, I said to my sister, “well, I’m sorry you don’t have time for me” and by this time I’m right behind her and needless to say she almost passed out to see me there; and as each person came up from the lower level, one at a time, they had the same surprise for themselves. I never had so much fun or joy to see everyone’s face. A day to remember.
