Aberacadabera

This week’s topic has been disappointment, and the yucky feeling we get when someone we care about says, “I’m disappointed in you.”

I try to lighten my writing up a bit on Fridays, but lightness and disappointment don’t seem to go together all that well. Here is my shot at bringing them together.

It’s almost ten years ago.

It was my 60th birthday. Ed promised it would be the best birthday ever.

OK, this is where I have to insert that Ed’s promise led me to conjure up all sorts of high expectations. If it was going to really be the best ever, this must mean that a few of our kids who lived far away were going to come to celebrate with us. He knew all too well how important family was to me. I was sure this must be the surprise. Once I made it up that family was coming, I was beyond excited.

Instead, when my big 60-day approached, Ed said we were traveling to California. And with a big grin on his face, he announced we were dining at the French Laundry.

Ed and I at the French Laundry

We’d talked about going to the French Laundry for years. It’s a fabulous restaurant. I wanted to show my appreciation and gratitude. But I was disappointed in Ed. I didn’t say, “I’m disappointed in you,” but I’m sure that it was written all over my face.

Long story short, we did go to the French Laundry. Amazingly he had gotten two reservations on back to back days. It was wonderful. And when we returned home, as I entered the house…. surprise! ALL of my children and grandchildren – and even my dear sister and her husband – were there to greet us, singing, laughing and hugging on me — making it, as he had promised, the best birthday ever.

I’m sitting on the right, soaking it all up!