After a couple months of secret conversations with my mom,
sister and others, I caught a flight from DC to Seattle for the big surprise!
Here’s a brief tweet like recap...
Don’t “meet me in St. Louis” airport! You have to go through
security again when you transfer from A gates to C gates!
Landed in Seattle at 9PM - a helpful man says to me “Sir, young
man, are you finding everything you need?” Reassuring to my 40 year old
self.
Missed the 9:15PM express bus into W. Seattle. Waiting
inside for the 10:15. Seattle is still cold and damp!
10:15PM bus arrives. West Seattle Express? “No we just go to
the Burien transit center” even though the sign clearly says it still goes past my parent’s front door in West Seattle (or used to!)
The bus driver now has decided that I’ll have to catch two
connecting buses. Hopefully I make it by my dad’s birthday in five days!!!
Bus driver lecturing me that I should plan better!? I call
Andrea’s parents. They aren’t home.
At 10:30PM I called my parents. Dad answers. “Is mom there?”
Yes, what’s wrong? Dad thinks something is wrong as it’s 1:30AM on the east
coast where he thinks I am.
Mom gets on the phone. I explain we probably need to tell Dad…so
he can come pick me up! I hear her say, “Can we go pick Duncan up, he’s in
Burien.” (Surprise #1)
I wait. Dad still assuming something bad has happened to me
or Andrea. When they arrive, I say I would use the phone to let them know if
something happens rather than tell them at the Burien transit center!
I tell them I have a conference to go to on Monday in
Portland and knowing it was the weekend before his big birthday, I thought I’d
surprise him. (1st lie) and that I’ll fly to Portland Sunday PM. (2nd
lie)
But, I let slip that I have a direct flight back to DC from
Seattle. Dad picks up on this and wants to know when and how I am returning to
Seattle from Portland. (I quickly make something up – 3rd lie)
Mom has bought my lies too and whispers that I could get a
ride down to Portland with relatives who will be returning after the planned party.
“Mom, there is no conference!” (I must be quite convincing.)
Grateful that even though the first part of the surprise didn't go as planned (knocking on the door!) all is well.
Grateful that even though the first part of the surprise didn't go as planned (knocking on the door!) all is well.
The plan is that after church on Sunday, Esther, Jon, Hana
and Naomi are coming over for lunch. As church begins, Dad realizes that my mom’s
three brothers and wives are all there too.
After church we all head to Spuds Fish and Chips (Seattle’s oldest fast food place!) I haven’t seen my uncles and aunts and cousin Lynn for at least five years! It's good to seem them.
We’re done with lunch earlier than we thought and have an hour to kill before we show up at the party. We walk the beach. I lie (again!) and tell my dad that I can get a ride down to Portland with my uncle and aunt and suggest we all go to my parent’s place to get a cup of coffee and I can collect my suitcase.
On the way, my mom “suggests” we stop at Party Host Betty’s
house so she can pick up something.
Dad is having none of this as he thinks family members are
right behind us and he needs to get home to put the coffee on. She insists.
Dad says “Make it quick, one minute, no chit chat!” And he
stays in the car! Mom and I go to Betty’s house where people are starting to
gather.
Betty goes out to the car and persuades my dad to come in
for a minute and well…the surprise is successful! (Surprise #3)
I tell my dad there is no conference.
Hook, line and sinker…
A Big thank you to all those who came to the party and those
who sent cards and greetings from around the world and to Betty for hosting!
Betty (photo below, along with Bonnie who helped make the party happen, holding a poster of my dad as a choir boy) had blown up some old photos of my dad which were a hit with everyone
especially the one of my parents leaning on a post before they were married. My parents of course, don’t see what all the
fuss is about!
More photos on facebook.
Posts
