Surprise!

Clare retired on August 1: http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-07-31
Beginning some time before that, our dear friends, Raymond & Jeanne, our daughters and I have been trying to arrange a surprise visit by our girls, who both now live in Boston. Today was the day!

Under the guise of a “Bad Movie Night” (see below), which we have had occasionally over the years with Raymond & Jeanne, they invited Clare & me to come to dinner tonight. Understand that the invitation was “last minute.” How last minute? Four days ago. How long have the girls had their plane tickets from Boston? Since July 23.

Clare offered to bring something since this wasn’t a special occasion of any kind. Raymond said she didn’t need to bring anything. (“It’s my party.”)

So Clare & I arrive and after a little bit of kitchen chit-chat, Clare sits down in the living room with her “attitude adjustment” (“Chicago II”). I have already told her that I didn’t have a photo to post yet, so I was taking some random shots. Then the girls came in the front door.

Clare heard familiar voices, but how could that be, right? She turned to look and I almost posted that photo, as disbelief became speechlessness, but the joy of this shot was way too much to pass up!

Memorable quote (Clare to Raymond): “Wait — you knew about this?”

Something noteworthy? Over that many weeks, I didn’t slip up. :)

We are looking forward to a wonderful weekend with the girls, whom we haven’t seen since April in Boston — http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-04-19 — and Burlington — http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-04-20

“Bad Movie Night,” you ask? Yep; we intentionally have watched bad movies. This list could not be exhaustive, but here are some (in no particular order):
» “Virgins from Hell”
» “Plan 9 From Outer Space”
» “Glen or Glenda”
» “Attack of the Killer Tomatoes”
» “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”
» “I Bury the Living”

P.S. Happy Birthday to my “little brother”!

One year ago (“Spotted Cucumber Beetle on a petunia”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-09-06
Two years ago (“‘Down a pint’…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-09-06

6th September 2013 6th Sep 13