Life Goes On

 Last week my Mom turned 85.

A few weeks beforehand I realized her actual birthday fell on a Friday and I got the idea to put together a party for her. My siblings voted for a surprise party.

So last Friday my niece and sister in law ( well they're divorced but we still think of her as our sister in law took my Mom out for a wonderful day of shopping, lunch, manicures, pedicures and hair styling..

They were supposed to be home by 5 pm. which would give the rest of us time to drive in, set up the house and put out food and decorations.

I got there first with my kids, and we got to work then my siblings their kids started to arrive.
Everyone worked to get things ready.

We kept our eyes on the clock and practiced different "Surprise!!!" scenarios trying to decide which would be less likely to cause Mom to have a heart attack.


 Finally we decided a simple waiting in the kitchen to find us would be safest.


  While we waited we decided to relax...
and have a little pre-party, party..

 we looked out the window ...




and waited..







Eventually they got there!!

Happy Birthday Mom!!

I think she was happy, and surprised.


I stayed over with Juliette for 3 nights, which is the big reason for selling my cows, so I could spend time with my Mom,  it made sense..

 Then last night Juliette, Tommy and I went to the Opera.

Austin Lyric Opera has this wonderful program that allows students and teachers to attend dress rehearsals for free...

It's so great, the performances are always top rate, and we wouldn't have this opportunity without this
program.

Last year Juliette and I went to 3, performances, and Tommy went to one, he saw Don Carlos and liked it
but wasn't able to make any others.

So when I invited  him  to see Romeo and Juliet, he was actually quite willing to go, he even left basketball practice early to shower and get ready...

You know what? I think that's probably the exact reason they have this program in place...  expose the child to the arts and you just never know what will happen...

Discussion about the story, the training of the performers, the orchestra, the costumes, the set, the language so much comes from it.
Tommy even told me about Tupac ( a rapper) who said Romeo and Juliet is an ageless tale, and can be applied now a days to gang members, .. you know... the gangs are like the two families keeping hatred alive against the wishes of some of the members... members of one gang aren't allowed to be friends or lovers with members of rival gangs.. something to think about.
It was good..

Like the blog title says, life goes on, things are different but things are good....