SURPRISE! Well, Almost!

 Before I plunge into the stories ahead - those Failed Surprise Birthday Tales - I just want to issue a bit of an assurance so as to keep whatever friends I may have. To the extent possible, I will endeavor to keep identities hidden. You may be able to guess the who or when but I will do my best to protect.

"So, what are you doing next Saturday evening?"

That is how this one all started, a simple question and an equally simple response. No plans. It being Saturday there would be the usual items on the schedule. There would be time for Confessions and that would be followed by the Saturday evening Mass. Then back home to relax, get settled in for the coming Sunday schedule, have dinner and not really much more.

"Well, some of my family will be visiting from out of town and maybe you could join us for dinner. That would give them a chance to meet my new 'boss''."

A new member of our pastoral staff was issuing the invite and was also rather excited about the possibility of family meeting and even dining with that new "boss."

And it really sounded like a  good idea to me as well. After all, that would mean that I would not have to cook, and, truth be told, back then, my cooking probably either meant take out or get something out of the freezer, like one of those TV dinners, not exactly real healthy!

So why not?

I could easily do that.

After Mass I could just hop in the car and drive a short distance and join some folks for a pleasant dinner, heading back home early enough to get properly rested for the coming Sunday morning.

So a Saturday was all properly lined up.

The Saturday arrived and unfolded exactly as expected.

Mid-afternoon witnessed the usual number of penitents seeking to hear those soothing words of absolution and forgiveness, experience the generous mercy of God.

That was followed in due time by the expected gathering of faithful to sing, give praise and thanks and join together in Eucharist. And, again as usual, after the Mass, there I stood at the main doorway exchanging greetings and pleasantries with the departing Assembly.

Everything was going predictably for me and, unknown to me, everything was going smoothly for a crowd gathering at the home that was slated to host a quiet dinner.

Oh yes, those relatives were, indeed, in town for their planned visit. However, they had now also become part of a plot to unfold a surprise birthday gathering for me.

Folks were gathering; food and drink was being gathered and arranged.  Everything was being brought into the ready for that moment when I would walk through the door and be greeted by that traditional shout, "Surprise!"

All was going exactly according to plans for everyone involved.

The "Surprise" was now just minutes away.

I was about my final tasks of putting things away, the last of the departing faithful almost gone. Then lock the doors; shut off the lights; get in my car and drive away right into that waiting gathering of friends eager to spring their surprise.

One last person remained  in the church building, leaving but still wanting, clearly, to take a moment for some words.

That moment came.

"Happy Birthday, Father!" was the greeting.

"Well, thank you but how did you know that it is my birthday?"

I mean, this is usually not something I try and broadcast. Even if these days you are on Facebook, come the day, you will not get a pop-up reminder to send birthday greetings to me.

But here was someone who clearly knew.

But how?

And then it spilled out.

"I was in the liquor store earlier," my greeter explained, "and I ran into (name not to be told!) and I was surprised to see her buying a bottle of scotch."

"So she told me that it really wasn't for her. It was for you and for your birthday party."

BAM!

So there it was.

Just minutes before I was to walk through that door, unsuspecting and innocent, to be stunned by that shout of "Surprise!" the truth poured out.

This would be no ordinary meet and greet quiet dinner.

Plotters had gathered ready to stun and surprise.

Or so they thought.

For as I drove over to that meeting, an unsuspecting crowd of friends were waiting for their unsuspecting (so they thought) victim.

They were so wrong!

Surprise!

But come on back as I share have more memories of other efforts at Surprise!

Meantime, Keep Praying . . . and Stay Safe! 

SURPRISE!

 I suspect that you have absolutely no real need to know this but I am going to tell you anyhow.

My birthday is fast approaching!

And I am mentioning this and writing of it not because I am expecting any special or very expensive gifts. I have gotten over such expectations years ago.

What I do expect is that I will begin the day, hopefully, with Mass in the nearby Felician Care Center. Later that day here at Senior Clergy Village we will gather and have a special dinner together with my requisite birthday apple pie! Every month we set aside a day to celebrate all who are observing birthdays in that month. 

The birthday song will be sung (likely without everyone or anyone washing their hands) and birthday candles will not be blown out. Covid - remember! Of course, thinking about that scene, if I did actually blow out the candles, no one could have any of the pie and it would be all mine!

But the one thing that will not occur is a gathering eager to pounce and shout out, "Surprise!"

That would be rather difficult to achieve this year with things like masks and social distancing.

No problem.

But the approach of this annual event has caused me to do a bit of looking back and remembering how, over the years, I seem to have provided family and friends with something of a challenge.

A Surprise Birthday Party!

Many have tried.

And honestly, many have failed.

Over my many years of this life's journey it seems that I have managed to ruin a good number of Surprise Birthday events. I don't really know why that seems to be and I might also add at this point, I do not intend this in any way to be a challenge to anyone.  For whatever months and years yet remain, we can rest content with what has been.

Surprise Birthdays have just not found a place in my life.

But I do have to admit, looking back I am grateful for those efforts and appreciative of the work and planning that folks in my life have put forth. And honestly, in writing about these efforts, I just may destroy some illusions that some might have had about how successful (?) their efforts had been in producing that surprise for me.

Three really big surprise moments stand out in my memory and I have decided to move into this year's birthday by recalling those moments, reliving them by writing of them, and also sharing how, with all the work and planning that went into them, they still unraveled and proved to be really no surprise at all.

Or wait! Each had some element of surprise and I hope to capture that.

And there was one really classic birthday celebration that did have a huge element of surprise, not just for me but for everyone involved. This one was not actually planned to be a surprise but it certainly was.

That was the year of a wondrous party with a very special cake. (Yes, there were times when I did have cake for birthdays.)

This cake, as I recall, had that special inscription: Happy 40th Birthday, Fr. Ron!

Everyone had gathered to celebrate my 40th Birthday, a very significant event to be sure.

But maybe in advance someone should have consulted my parents or even me.

Because, you see, in reality, it was only my 39th Birthday!

Surprise!

For me! Surprise! They think you're 40!

For everyone there! You just may have to do it all over again next year!

Truly - Surprise!

But come on back as I share with you some memories of those other efforts at Surprise!

Meantime, Keep Praying . . . and Stay Safe!