I got zits from all the stress.
I don't do zits. But luckily I had some old cover-up that was close to my skin color. The party turned out wonderful, even if my name should have been changed to "mayonnaise face" and I chewed every nail on my left hand.
We got a 6-foot Subway Sandwich, lots of chips, dressed up potato salad (Recipe: go to Wal-Mart, buy their potato salad, add chopped celery, and place in a bowl from your kitchen...fools even the toughest critic), and a metal tub filled with every soda imaginable...except for Diet Cherry Vanilla Chocolate Blueberry and Oregano Dr Pepper.
Everyone hid in Dad's clinic. About 25 to 30 of Mom's closest friends with their families showed up! Mom was having a very bad day and needed sugar or a stiff drink when she got to the clinic with Dad. Dad played it off that they were going out to eat, but needed to go to the clinic to do something "very important." She was going towards the front door when the lights went on, people screamed "Surprise" and Mom soiled her Depends. Just kidding! It was Wal-Mart Brand, cause Depends cost too much.
Michael TOM wasn't able to make it, so he let Mom "borrow" his queens crown and feather boa. (Before I left to go to Paris, Michael TOM let it be known that it would be a week of me sleeping on the couch if I forgot to bring home his precious crown and boa.) Look closely at this picture. I am almost positive Mom is looking up at me and is thinking about what a wonderful son I am and that she wishes she never gave me a spanking for saying curse words in church. I just know it! Oh, and you can kinda see my baby sister, Kelly looking up at the crown. She is thinking, "One day, that crown will be mine and all my people will bow before me!"
These were some cool napkins we got for the party. You know it's a good party when there is no cake leftover, very little "dressed up" potato salad to throw away, and people ask if they can take napkins home!
Kelly screamed out, "Everyone do the Hayes tilt" right before the picture was taken and we all tilted our head to one side. All of us tend to tilt our heads whenever we have pictures. There just isn't something right with us.
It wasn't easy getting this "Surprise Party" planned, but seeing how happy it made Mom feel, sure made it worth it. She never once commented on my zitty face, tried to corner me to pop one, nor asked why I was wearing coverup make-up.
Perhaps all those years of trying on Moms make-up as a kid paid off.
Happy Birthday Mommy!! I love you very much, and though I swore I would never offer to plan another birthday party, if you asked me very nicely and gave me money, I would do it. Lots of money.
Lots.
