Saturday, May 2, 2020

A Different Kind Of Surprise Party


Jessie brought the boys over to play in the backyard today and it was a lot of fun for them. Boppy hooked up the little cart to the ATV and gave them rides around the yard which they loved. "It's so bumpy!" said Levon.
We had another picnic and the boys helped bag leaves


and all was lovely except for one thing...
Last week Hank had planned and organized a drive-by birthday parade party for Jessie for this afternoon and as the hours went by and it got later, I started to worry that they weren't going to get home in time and that Mr. Moon and I wouldn't have time to get ready and get to town.
But she finally got the boys all ready to go home and slowly, slowly they buckled in and drove off and I frantically texted everyone that she was on her way home and we got ready and we met up with everyone at a parking lot in a Catholic school about a block away from Jessie and Vergil's house. Hank and Rachel, May and Michael, Lily and Lauren and the kids and Pepper, our friends Kati and Liz Sparks. Liz was with me when I had Jessie all those years ago and Jessie lived with her for awhile during college and Kati lived next door and became another beloved auntie.
Lily had stopped by the Dollar Tree for balloons and Owen had made a poster and we all made a tiny parade down the road and onto Jessie's road where we found her and Vergil and the boys outside, Jessie absolutely surprised.
She cried.
We drove around the block twice, honking horns and yelling "Happy Birthday!" and then we all got out and Rachel gave her cupcakes she'd made and there were presents and we mostly stayed six feet apart. I hadn't seen May and Michael in six weeks or more and I hadn't seen Liz and Kati in forever.


The boys were thrilled and I think Vergil was well satisfied. And you can see how Jessie felt. It was silly and it was fun. 


Gib-so Coolio. 


Owen and Pepper


A socially distant celebration.


Jessie put on the dress that May had given her immediately. 

And that was our party for Jessie this year. We all sang happy birthday and talked about how much we longed to hug each other and how incredibly hard we're going to be hugging soon. I think that someone said that Motrin will be needed. 

And then we all left and Mr. Moon and I stopped at Publix where I had to pick up a prescription and buy necessities like chocolate milk and beer and ice cream and asparagus. 

I cannot possibly imagine a time spent in this mostly-quarantined way which could be any better at all. Not one bit. And I got to see my loved ones. 

Thank you, Hank, for organizing and planning this party parade. I think you made your little sister very happy. And you gave us all an opportunity to meet up and love each other, even if from a distance. 

There is no shortage of love. And as Levon pointed out today, sometimes the bumpiest rides can be the most fun of all. 

Love...Ms. Moon


26 comments:

  1. And another belated happy birthday to Jessie, a great little momma, wife and daughter, and sister.

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    1. She is ALL of those things. She is precious.

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  2. This is so beautiful and it made me cry because I miss my brother even though we are emailing each other more than we’ve done for the past few years. This parade would thrill me forever. Hank has some mad skills. He too is a superb human. You tell him I said so next time you talk. ❤️

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    1. I will tell him! He may have already read this. He's just such a let's do it! kind of guy. I wish I was more like him.

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    2. You taught me that. "Then I'll do it myself said the Little Red Hen."

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  3. Wishing her many happy returns of the day!

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  4. Your beautiful girl. Your baby. Happy birthday to her! She loves and is so loved. She glows. Such a beautiful idea to do a birthday parade! ♥️

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    1. Hank is on top of the trends, I tell you! He's such a cool guy. I am so lucky to have the fabulous children I do, just as you are so lucky to have the fabulous children YOU do!

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  5. Replies
    1. Me too! It was awesome! Did you see that Rebecca called you a superb human being? She is correct.

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  6. Fabulous! Happy Birthday Jessie and what a wonderful thing for a brother to do.

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    1. The best thing in my life is how much my children adore each other.

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  7. What a great idea. You all definitely created a memorable birthday for Jessie and I'm glad there are plenty of pictures to commemorate it. Love her new dress! I'm glad it all came together despite the timing stress, and I'm glad that Pepper got to participate!

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    1. I think Pepper is participating in EVERYTHING! She's definitely the family love. And I love the pictures too.

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  8. What a wonderful idea! Happy Birthday to sweet Jessie!

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    1. Yep. Sweet Jessie. aka, Mean Aunt Jessie. Which is her nickname because she can be fierce! But mostly in her love.

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  9. A birthday parade sounds like a wonderful idea, along with cake, balloons, gifts and love!

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  10. Every Sunday since the start I drive about 40 minutes to meet my daughter and her wife and their baby in a Cracker Barrel restaurant parking lot. I love seeing them but every week it gets harder and harder to stay away from hugging. Ugh I hate this all!

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    1. I know. I KNOW! It's almost harder to see them and not to be able to touch them, isn't it? It is horribly hard.

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  11. Hank is so creative, what a wonderful thing for him to plan! And your family is just beyond words......the obvious love you all share. And love the dress May got for Jessie.....it is *so* Jessie!
    susan M

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    1. May was wearing the same dress but in blue! She'd ordered them online. Hank is incredibly creative. And he puts his ideas into actual reality.

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