My baby Bean (as she is affectionately called by family) was born on November 16th thirty whole years ago. Growing up, she was a little tomboy, playing with G.I. Joe dolls and camping out in ther G.I. Joe tent. We couldn't have been more different. I was the outgoing one and she was the introvert. In high school, she excelled in art and illustration, drawing cartoons and broadening her skills with painting. The college years brought her a B.A. in Fine Arts. She's been featured in juried art exhibitions in the L.A. area, including the Brand Library Art Galleries and Gallery 825, where she's won many awards for her drawing and mixed media. She is now an art teacher to elementary school children where she shares her love of art and inspires young ones to explore their creativity and to dream. She is a blessing to the world.
In addition to her art, she is an OPERA FIEND!!! She is die hard and goes to operas all the time (even alone!) and has an extensive collection of recordings and DVDs. Way before my parents left for their trip, my mom asked me what we could do for Bean to make her birthday a really memorable and special one since it was the big 3-0. Not a party, for sure--too ostentatious and she would hate that. Instead, we came up with the perfect plan: a surprise trip to New York to see the Metropolitan Opera! She. Would. Die. But we couldn't let her go alone. DH and I would join her to help her celebrate (YAY!!). So for the past couple of months, I tried to fanagle some info out of her like when she would be able to go without having to worry about teaching, which opera would she want to see, then we needed to purchase tickets, arrange flights, and find a place to stay all without her knowing. That was fun.
Turns out her Christmas break coincided with our's AND the opera she was planning to buy tix to see in HD at the theater. PERFECT! I snagged some great center seats in the dress circle and arranged to stay with our aunt and uncle in NJ, just 15 minutes outside of the city. We waited on airfare, hoping the prices would fall as gas prices were lowering. That's the only thing we still need to do and they are, in fact, getting lower.
On her bday weekend, DH’s parents came down to stay with us as we had another family event to attend on Sunday evening. On the morning of her bday, I got C up to paint and glitter the wooden treasure chest we bought to put the ticket in. Unfortunately, he was still so tired and coming down with a cold that he was none too pleased when I dragged him out of bed and put him to work. I think it turned out really cute, though (pics to come). I think his favorite part was the glitter. Who doesn’t love glitter? DH and I then went to mass (C was sick, so he stayed at home with the in-laws), picked up a ton of tiny presents, and then we all rendezvoused at Bean’s before going to Yard House for lunch. Bean even got a little frisky and ordered (gasp!) an alcoholic beverage (for which she and I both got carded).
When we got back to the house, we only had about an hour or so before we all had to leave to go to the other family event in Northridge (it was a one year anniversary mass for an aunt of our’s who passed away). So we busted out the video camera and proceeded to go through the assembly line of presents. First, the endless array of Dollar Tree goodies to whet her appetite (and make her giggle a bit): Jelly Bellies, Peach Rings, Twizzlers, and Spree; stencils, sandpaper, candles, a High School Musical CD-R (yeah, this one was definitely for laughs). Then into the “clue” gifts: gloves, leg-warmers, a movie with Brooklyn in the title, a set of 5 pairs of socks each with “Brooklyn”, “New York”, “Bronx”, “Queens”, “Harlem” on them (LOVE the Dollar Tree!!). The last set were the biggies: two SD cards, a Canon camera and AIO printer set, and the biggest of biggies: the treasure chest complete with treasure!!
When the camera came out, she was so surprised! But NOTHING compared to her reaction when she opened the treasure chest. She looked at the envelope inside (which said Met Opera, etc. and “Happy 30th Birthday! We love you very much! Love, Mom, Papa, R, R & C”). She was in UTTER disbelief— in a totally quiet speechless kind of way. She kept saying, “What? What is this? What? Nuh-uh…What?”. We got the whole thing on video. When she opened the envelope, more “What? What?!”. Ha ha. It was cute. I had tears in my eyes and I think she wanted to cry, too. Seriously, she was stupefied beyond mental comprehension. I think she thought she was dreaming. Even later that night in Northridge, she couldn’t believe it was real.
But it was and we are going to New York right after Christmas!! All the planning and scheming was all worth it. Her reaction was priceless. One dream nearly fulfilled:"Go see opera at NY Met Opera"--CHECK. And she totally deserves it. Sometimes the world conspires to give you something that your soul needs. WE LOVE YOU, BEAN!!!!
Damn, we’re good. ;)
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