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Surprise party a boost – Metro US

Surprise party a boost

Every once in a while, something extra-special happens in our lives. It could be anything from a job offer, to acceptance into university, to a wedding proposal, or the birth of a child.

But these events don’t usually come as a total surprise. You had to apply for the job, spend time dating your partner, and do, well, the obvious requisites needed to create a baby.

A true and great surprise, on the other hand, happens rarely, unexpectedly, and is miles away from your immediate expectations or plans. Like walking into a shopping mall and finding a box of free puppies. Or winning the lottery.

So lucky me: This past weekend, I was the recipient of the surprise of my life.

For a small errand, my husband and I were going to pass by my mom’s house on our way out for dinner. Nothing about our plan was out of the ordinary. We had the baby with us, our other child at home with a sitter.

A normal evening, nothing remarkable to note. In fact, I even noticed that my parents’ usually crowded street seemed to have fewer cars parked along the curb.

But when my mom answered the door, I noted she was somewhat overdressed for a Sunday night at home with her husband. Three steps inside the house, and I was mesmerized: her dining room had been transformed into a lush Caribbean-themed fruit and flower festival.

And in the backyard, beautifully decorated under the gorgeous fall equinox sky, were most of my nearest and dearest. Friends and family had gathered from across the city — plus a few special guests from south of the border — to celebrate and party.

With the rum punch flowing and the upbeat reggae music echoing through the trees, I practically floated from one person to the next, getting and giving hugs and kisses from all.

I was astonished that this party had been put together for me, and that all the guests had managed to keep it a secret — through weeks and weeks of planning!

This column, A Woman’s World, is usually about current events from a woman’s perspective — and current in a more global sense. But this was the biggest current event in my world and I wanted to share it with readers.

Often, we women get razzed for being so complex, complicated and impossible to figure out. True sometimes, but at our core, we have the basic human needs: sustenance, sleep, and shelter.

Yet we thrive best from periodic shots of encouragement and support. And, every once in a while, there’s nothing more uplifting and re-energizing than being shown how much we’re loved and appreciated. And it doesn’t have to take a surprise party to do it, just a surprising boost.

As the acronym for this column goes, AWWwww — and thanks to all of you for your support as readers.

letters@metronews.ca