By Phil Hugo
Guest Columnist
I’m sitting in a nice restaurant in Omaha during the early evening hours of the Thursday adjacent to the fast-approaching Memorial Day weekend in May. Joining me are 10 members of my family. Some of us have not seen each other since the same weekend for a wedding here in 2021.
My sister, Rita, is under the impression that we are in town to be with other family members for the weekend. What she does not know is we have been keeping a closely guarded secret for months that would be revealed to her on Saturday.
My wife, Karen, and I received a call from my niece, Aelea, last fall informing us that she wanted to plan a surprise 70th birthday party for her mother, Rita, on the aforementioned weekend. Rita’s birthday is in late July, when Nebraska weather can be hot and humid. Late May is a safer bet, and Aelea knew that working members of our family would enjoy the extended weekend.
She also called our brother in Washington state so we would have time to plan our travel. Other family members, many who live closer, would be apprised of the event in due time. If you have ever planned a surprise party months in advance, you know it can be a challenge to keep it close to the vest, i.e. not having a little one tip off the honoree. “Aunt Rita, I heard you are having a surprise birthday party!”
Our advice to Aelea was to keep it low stress: family, a handful of close friends and simple but good food. And remember, mum’s the word.
The obvious question when Rita was out of earshot that evening was, “Is she suspicious?” “She doesn’t have a clue.” So far so good.
Friday was a busy day at Rita’s home. When she saw people cutting up melons and pineapple, her question was, “What’s the fruit for?” “That will be for the family get-together Sunday.” We would be gathering at the homeplace in West Point. It’s one of many fibs that were told.
On top of all the planning and working full-time, Aelea had just started nursing school a few days prior. “Whew!” She is also a talented artist and made some decorations. Rita queried: “What are those for?” “I joined the student nurses association, and we are making them for a fundraiser.” “Oh”
The fibs were becoming too numerous to count. “Does she know?” “Nope!”
Family zipped into gear Saturday morning with a 2 p.m. deadline staring us in the face. The plan to get the birthday girl out of the house was for two sisters-in-law to take two sisters to brunch. “Come on — we have to get going!” Before one of the conspirators could get Rita in their car, she said, “I’ll drive. I know the way to the restaurant.” That prompted a bit of consternation — what if she says she forgot something. She didn’t.
It would not be a large soiree, but we only had a four-hour window. Tables and chairs put in place, a small tent to be erected, those decorations for the fundraiser and balloons to be secured to dance in the breeze and so on. Someone went to the BBQ joint. Food, including the fruit for West Point, and beverages were arranged in the garage. Birthday cake came later.
“What time is it?” “One fifteen!” It was coming together.
Before long, members of our family (39 of 43 were in attendance) and a baker’s dozen of Rita’s friends began wandering in. Rita’s older daughter, Briauna, who lives in Louisville, Ky., could not be there, but her husband, Elvis, was present. A gaggle of young cousins were running wild.
All was in order, and Aelea reported the brunch gals would be arriving around 1:45 p.m. Rita stopped the car short of her driveway when she saw people and many cars. Aelea went to the car: “Mom, it’s your birthday party!” When Rita entered, the scene she was smiling in disbelief with tears of joy. A collective “happy birthday” rang out and perhaps quiet sighs of relief among those of us who had worked so hard to keep a secret. Now Rita knew the real story.
For my part, it was a joy to have had a hand in pulling it off, to see everyone having a fantastic time — eating, drinking and being merry under an azure Nebraska sky.
The party was a group effort, but I want to thank Aelea for the idea and bringing it forward so our family could be part of a secret well kept. The question, “Does she know?” would be no more.
Phil Hugo lives in Lima. His column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Lima News editorial board or AIM Media, owner of The Lima News.
