Dateline: March 15, 2012: This is the city, Clinton, South Carolina. I was working a day (and night) watch one half mile from Clinton High School, workplace of one Spanish teacher, Stephanie Massey McMann, my firstborn. She didn’t know that if she turned right out of the parking lot and did a short jog over to the Hampton Inn—she would find her mom. This fact gave me a huge adrenalin rush! I took a short dip in the indoor pool, soaked in the hot tub, and caught some rays while chuckling to myself. My sister, Jean, who loves to aid and abet in these pranks, was barreling down I-85 to I-26 en route to our rendezvous. Jean had another motive for helping. She had been the victim of a surprise party July, 2011. Her children, brother-in-law, and ‘moi’ had been in collusion for a few months in search of the right MO to rock her back on her feet. Jean wanted in on the action to surprise Stephanie. Her rush would come from working on the other side of the aisle!
Hindsight being what it is, Jean’s kids had more ammo to work with. Jean’s son, Norian, and daughter-in-law, Caroline, were expecting twins, the alibi for a baby shower was a given. The surprise party was not only for Jean, but also for her sister-in-law, Beth. Beth was born in July, Jean in August. Jean wouldn’t suspect that a party would take place one month before her 70th birthday. She and Beth were surprised and Jean’s daughter Wendy was both exhausted and exhilarated. Wendy, Norian, Caroline, Wendy’s husband, Mike, and Beth’s husband, Charlie, did a yeoman’s job in the care and feeding of the surprise.
Meanwhile back to Clinton; it was my turn. Me, Stephanie’s husband, Clay, and my three grandchildren, Stephen, Joy, and Faith had our stories straight. We rehearsed by phone and in person. It was most difficult for my son-in-law. The word ‘honest’ was invented for Clay McMann. His face reads like an open book, especially to his bride of seventeen years. Stephanie knew something was in the air, but she didn’t know what. After the party she offered insight into how our behavior changed during the waiting period of forty nine days, twelve hours, and ten minutes.
Stay tuned for: The Fine Art of Surprise Part II
In Surprise Mode, Beth Fordham Golden and Jean Lewis Fordham-it was awesome to stand next to my sister and say, GOTCHA!
