August 13 - A Night to Remember

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Last night (August 13th) was my parents 36th wedding anniversary.  Us kids wanted to give them a night they would never forget.  Katie was the one who started everything, but soon others joined in and helped contribute to this anniversary surprise.  

An over-sized limo picked up my parents at their house and took them to four different stops.  For each stop there was a goofy poem and a scrapbook page.  There was a gift basket in the limo for my parents to enjoy a few snacks or drinks between stops.  The first stop was Churchill high school where my parents first started dating and fell in love.  Next was the spot downtown where my Dad proposed.  When he proposed way back then it wasn't much of an official proposal.  Mom and Dad had picked out the ring together and as soon as it arrived my Dad rushed downtown to meet my mom on her lunch break (she was working at a bank) and he gave her the ring.  Sadly, my Mom could never really wear the ring because it made her break out in a rash - it was years before she discovered she had a nickel allergy.  Last night when they went back to the same spot, my dad pulled out a new ring that he purchased for her recently.  It is more or less nickel-free and she said it was the most beautiful ring she'd ever seen.  

The stop after that was at Riley Park, where my parents first had their wedding photos taken 36 years ago.  This time good friends took the photos for them and provided a picnic snack.  The last stop was at the house we grew up in, in Beddington. After that the limo drove my Mom and Dad home, where "The Four Sisters" restaurant was waiting for them.  When they walked in the door, their wedding dance song was playing, "Hooked on a Feeling".  Then they ate supper and all six kids showed up (two of us via Facetime on the cell phones) and sang our own take on "My Favorite Things".  My parents were very surprised to see Jen and Laura in from out of town, just to make the big night happen.  The final touch for the evening was to create a moment my Dad was hoping would happen at his 50th Wedding Anniversary.  He wanted to sing the Alan Jackson song to my Mom there.  Instead, he was handed the lyrics and the music came up.  He tried to sing, but he was too emotional, so my parents danced instead.  If you don't know the song, check out the music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTA2buWlNyM