BIRTHDAY WEEKEND - SURPRISE PARTY!

At this age, your parents are most likely gone. And, I don't have brothers or sisters.
All my related family lives out west, so you go into 2010 thinking, oh well, I will just have a nice little dinner for John Saturday night and we will go to the movie on Sunday.
John's birthday is November 20th and mine November 21st. For 40 years we have shared this celebration with all kinds of get together's. Our parents always took us out, our friends always took us out and by Thanksgiving we were full and miserable. But happy.

Another tradition is that my friend Anna takes me out for lunch and open presents. I do the same for her in March. And, so it was set up that for my 70th she would take me to Bridgewater Restaurant. Usually very observant, I certainly didn't see all kinds of cars in the parking lot that I should recognize. I was blabbing about the weather and suddenly inside the dining room door came " S U R P R I S E "!!!!!!!!!!!

YOU SHOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT TO SOMEONE MY AGE. Ha. Anyway, it was FABULOUS!
Most of my friends there around a huge table. Balloon, Cake, presents, lots of cards. I felt 7. Yep! I had at that time never had a surprise Birthday Party. I did remember that early this summer Anna had asked if I had ever had birthday party growing up. Nope!

Those who could not get off work sent cards. It was surreal. I thank you Anna, and also Delice who made the birthday cake for making my year. I thank all of you who were there and sent cards. You have no idea what that meant to me, what it means to me. I thank you for all your special comments and tributes. It was embarrassing, but it made my year.

Friendship is important. At Thanksgiving this year I will be thinking of you and how blessed I am. God talks a lot about friendship in His Word. As I told the gals Friday, I grew up without family and all my friends have been from coming to Auburn 40 years ago. I couldn't do it without you. You are my sisters. This is what sisters do.

Love
Shirley Faith 11-21-10