DAD'S 75TH BIRTDAY SURPRISE
It took some doing, but we did it! Not quite sure how we managed it with all the guests due to arrive around 1 p.m. on Saturday April 15th, 2006, but much to his surprise (and ours), it worked!
My friends from England were here for two weeks and their return flight was this same day. We determined that it would be best for them to drive my car to the airport and drop it there. I would catch a ride there after the festivities to retrieve it. My Dad, however, was under the impression that I was driving them to the airport. That made it a bit easier for me to get finish the party preparations undetected by him. The low country boil was underway around 9 a.m. It took the longest to get the water to a boil...can't do anything until the water boils...so in the meantime, I'm preparing seafood at the sink looking out the window when I see my dad drive past. Oh no! He's going to see the steam coming out of the pot and catch me in the act! What am I going to do? I quickly went out and piled things in front of the pot (everything I could find like coolers, garbage bags full of rubbish to go to the dumpsters, boxes) so that it was completely obscured from view. That worked fine until the wind blew a box close to the propane burner and set it ablaze. Great! A rubbish fire in the front yard and the phone is ringing. Fire first..nearby garden hose was put to use and the fire was extinguished in no time. Checked the message from the phone call and learned that my dad was out and about to keep watchful. Already knew that! I'd seen it first hand that he was out and about.
The water was at a hard boil at 11:30 a.m. and the stage by stage addition of the ingredients began. Sausage first ( 15 pounds of assorted sausage cut into 3" pieces). The water was allowed to boil again, then the onions were added and corn immediately afterward. Potatoes next and allowed to cook for about 20 minutes before the 40 pounds of shrimp were added. The cooker was turned off at this stage and the pot was covered and allowed to stand for about 15 minutes. By now, it's 12:15...and almost time to make a move toward my Dad's home with the goodies. The seafood stew and deviled crab and baked beans were ready and now the low country boil was done, too! So, now, it's safe for me to be seen as I've had time to return from the airport. Needing to borrow the truck to transport the food for the party, I went to my Dad's to see about using his truck to "take off the garbage that had accumlated " during my friends' visit. Not realzing at the time that my Dad's sister and niece were there already, I had to make a big deal out of not knowing they were coming. Right! They called to confirm directions about an hour or so earlier. It was played up that I'd be back as soon as I returned the truck. Fact being, the garbage did need to go, but the food transport was top priority at this point. It should be noted that Dad was still oblivious to what was about to happen.
When I returned at 1 p.m. with the food in the pick up, all the guests had arrived and Dad was standing dumbfouned under the carport almost in a daze and the most exicted I've seen him in many years! When he saw the huge pot in the truck, he realized for certain that it was his surprise....and what a celebration it was!
Celebrating 75 years of life and enjoying every second of it...Happy Birthday Dad! WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!
Photos has have been taken and will be posted soon.
My friends from England were here for two weeks and their return flight was this same day. We determined that it would be best for them to drive my car to the airport and drop it there. I would catch a ride there after the festivities to retrieve it. My Dad, however, was under the impression that I was driving them to the airport. That made it a bit easier for me to get finish the party preparations undetected by him. The low country boil was underway around 9 a.m. It took the longest to get the water to a boil...can't do anything until the water boils...so in the meantime, I'm preparing seafood at the sink looking out the window when I see my dad drive past. Oh no! He's going to see the steam coming out of the pot and catch me in the act! What am I going to do? I quickly went out and piled things in front of the pot (everything I could find like coolers, garbage bags full of rubbish to go to the dumpsters, boxes) so that it was completely obscured from view. That worked fine until the wind blew a box close to the propane burner and set it ablaze. Great! A rubbish fire in the front yard and the phone is ringing. Fire first..nearby garden hose was put to use and the fire was extinguished in no time. Checked the message from the phone call and learned that my dad was out and about to keep watchful. Already knew that! I'd seen it first hand that he was out and about.
The water was at a hard boil at 11:30 a.m. and the stage by stage addition of the ingredients began. Sausage first ( 15 pounds of assorted sausage cut into 3" pieces). The water was allowed to boil again, then the onions were added and corn immediately afterward. Potatoes next and allowed to cook for about 20 minutes before the 40 pounds of shrimp were added. The cooker was turned off at this stage and the pot was covered and allowed to stand for about 15 minutes. By now, it's 12:15...and almost time to make a move toward my Dad's home with the goodies. The seafood stew and deviled crab and baked beans were ready and now the low country boil was done, too! So, now, it's safe for me to be seen as I've had time to return from the airport. Needing to borrow the truck to transport the food for the party, I went to my Dad's to see about using his truck to "take off the garbage that had accumlated " during my friends' visit. Not realzing at the time that my Dad's sister and niece were there already, I had to make a big deal out of not knowing they were coming. Right! They called to confirm directions about an hour or so earlier. It was played up that I'd be back as soon as I returned the truck. Fact being, the garbage did need to go, but the food transport was top priority at this point. It should be noted that Dad was still oblivious to what was about to happen.
When I returned at 1 p.m. with the food in the pick up, all the guests had arrived and Dad was standing dumbfouned under the carport almost in a daze and the most exicted I've seen him in many years! When he saw the huge pot in the truck, he realized for certain that it was his surprise....and what a celebration it was!
Celebrating 75 years of life and enjoying every second of it...Happy Birthday Dad! WE ALL LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!
Photos has have been taken and will be posted soon.
posted by blake at 11:13 PM
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