Jenny On the Spot

That is what I heard on a recent Saturday evening as I removed my blindfold. And was I!

The story was that we were going to dinner at our friends\’ house. I dressed to impress - sweats, frumpy shirt and no make-up. I\’m talkin\’, tired pregnant lady look! As far as I knew, we were going to enjoy a night of chit-chatting and kickin\’ back…

When we got there, my friend\’s hubby (who is the cook of the family) came out and said plans had changed and that he hired a sitter and wanted to take us to dinner. My thought at that moment - how sweet, but no way, I look like crap! I mumbled a few words about maybe needing to run home and change…

To our (later to find out only my) surprise, the hubby pulled out bandanas and said he wanted us wives to be surprised at our destination. After some weaving and winding on roads I could not see, it appeared we had arrived. I had just begun telling the story of the last time I had been blindfolded - for a little surprise b-day fun for my 16th… Who knew 16 years later…

I am so slow. I am so clueless. I walk in, … and \”SURPRISE!!!!\” And was I ever! Possibly as surpised as that July morning I took my last pregnancy test!

Apparently, my hubby called a friend on a Wednesday and asked if he could plan a party at her place… for Saturday. Long story short, and many secret phone calls later, I walk into a fabulous disco extravagaza:) Sure I looked dumpy and frumpy, pale and splotchy faced, but the pale face only came after the bright-red surprise face:) So many of my girlfriends pulled the details together - I even had my own special pregnant-lady disco dress to wear! And I did get a good coat of blue eyeshadow…

Paul worked hard to keep it a secret and carried the burden of wanting to give me a fantastic surprise and a wonderful birthday to rememeber. There was great food (everybody brought something), many dressed in disco clothes and hair, we danced, sang karaoke, and there was even a disco ball! One friend told Paul about their family tradition, everyone share why they were thankful that person was born. While, I was terribly uncomfortable (it\’s hard to take compliments) it was really neat to hear nice things folks think about me. I am accutely aware of my un-niceness, so to hear all that nice stuff was kind-a, well, nice. Awkward, but nice. That is definitely something we will be doing in our family from now on:)

My actual birthday isn\’t until tomorrow, low-key I assume:) But Paul tells me we are going away for the night one night soon… I think he got me a massage at a nice salon in Seattle:) He said I get to choose our agenda and speed… slow for sure, and at I\’m sure a mid-afternoon nap!! His mom will take the kids for the night, so it will be kid free! I sure feel pampered, and am enjoying these special treats. 32 isn\’t looking so bad after all…