The Sweet Smell Of Success

Can you smell it?

Yes, that heavenly scent is the sweet smell of a sucessful plan brought to fruition. My mom's rockin' birthday bash was a HUGE success-and even that's an understatement. Today please allow me to bore you with the details and then I promise to never bring it up again. So indulge me for this one day because we are still on a high.

We soooo got her.

We rented a luxury bus, and all of my moms kids and grandkids were stowed away on the bus to whisk us away for the suprise evening. The plan or "ruse" was for me and My Guy and my dad to take her out to dinner to her favorite restaurant, but really we were all going to another fabulous restaurant where my big brother had expertly arranged everything. We had our own private room and a private menu for the occassion. We had to be at the restaurant early-because my brother had arranged another surprise-we were leaving after dinner to go to the Improv Asylum in Boston where my mom was to be featured as part of the show. But before I get to that-we had to figure out a way to get my mom on the bus for the suprise.

We get to my mom's house early and my brother texts me to tell me to stall because they weren't there (the bus load) and were running late. So we are talking and having some wine, all the while waiting for them to show. Finally after my dad and I trying to stall and much, "look at my new shrubs out back" I get the text that the bus is here and in position. So me, My Guy, my dad and mom all get into the car in the GARAGE and pull out. The bus was strategically parked in front of the driveway, blocking access. We feign a, "What the hell is this?" kind of thing and my mom tells me to get out and tell the bus to move. The only detail I had left to chance was how I was going to get her out of the car and onto the bus. So I stick my head into the bus and say to my family, "How am I going to get her out of the car?" We decide to tell her that there is some old lady that she knows on the bus and wants to say hi to her, which she buys-and mom gets out of the car and walks up to the bus.

She was flabbergasted! It took her a good five minutes to greet every one, all 26 of us, and soon the champagne was flowing and we were on our way. My mom was so happy!!! It was great! We got the the restaurant about 20 minutes later and mom says, "I don't want to get off the bus, I'm having such a good time", but we tell her there is an entire evening of surprises ahead. In the private room they have set up a video screen for us so that we could play for her a youtube video of the family members that couldn't make it. My mom loved it. Then it was on to the roast.

Now, you all know how nervous I was- I had decided to do a top ten-(thank you Zibsy) entitled, "Top Ten Reasons Why My Mom's A Friggin Rock Star". So we went around the room and everyone stood up and said something to my mom. It was wonderful because everyone said such nice things to mom-everyone going the "you are so wonderful" and "I love you so much"route. Then it was her five kids turn, and I'm thinking here's the roast. Let's just say it was a collective CHOKE on my siblings part, because they either cried and got emotional or made it short and sweet and I mean sweet. I was sweating it out now because my brother, who I told you is quite possibly the funniest guy on the planet, decided he wasn't going to be funny. Since I am the youngest, I was next to last so I stepped up, told my mom that this was supposed to be a roast, and that I not only took my assignment seriously, I decided to "stick the knife in and twist it around a bit".

I slayed it. It was a great moment for me and my family, and I quite literally left them in tears. EVERYBODY loved it! My mom took the list for framing and I got requests from my siblings to forward them the list so that they could do the same. (Thank you bloggers for your suggestions and support) I guess I was just the right man for the job. She also loved the wall portrait, which is already hanging proudly in her bedroom, and I took your suggestion bloggers, and framed the four pictures of us laughing in a separate frame which was possibly her favorite.

Next we were off the comedy show. My mom was called onto the stage for an "interview" which the comics then use for a improv sketch based on the information they garner. She was so funny, quick, sharp and hilarious-that the comic that interviewed her said, after she had returned to her seat. "Rosemary, I have interviewed a lot of people in my years doing this show and you are by FAR-my favorite." He also told her during the interview, "I think I love you." To which she replied, "Honey, you couldn't afford me."

The sketch was uproarious, which featured perfect zingers like when they re-enacted my parents first phone conversation as my mom saying, " Who is this? You sound poor," to the last moment when the comic playing my dad says to the comic playing my mom, "Rosemary, I don't have much, but I can offer you this." Above his head was an enourmous disco ball to which he put his hand under as if it were a diamond ring. We just about died laughing, as even they couldn't help but notice my mother's cache of "bling" proudly displayed that evening.

My mom said it was the greatest night of her life and I have to say that it was one of the greatest nights of mine. All kidding aside, you take away the bling and all the other crap that really means nothing, and you still have one of the greatest human beings to ever inhibit this planet. She has not lost a step-and to this day she is loved and revered by everyone who knows her. It hasn't always been easy for her, but she has survived it all and taught her children well. Every diamond, wish of love, zing thrown in good fun, and declaration of her greatness is well deserved. As the matriarch of our family, there is no question we would be lost without her.

I am still in awe and will be forever grateful that God chose to give her to me.