|
CalifChick -> RE: CJan and the Girls (7/31/2008 12:51:31 AM)
|
I know I'm skipping around here, but I'm still struggling with putting into words the experience of meeting all of these fine people.
The Birthday Experience
We had intended to make dinner at CJ's for my birthday, but we were going to be late for a party at the playspace if we did that, so we went out instead. We were sitting in a very loud restaurant, without much elbow room, when I heard something about presents. I was looking forward to what would surely be some funny gag gifts. Bring it on!!!
The first thing put in front of me was a lovely pale green bag from Everhope that she had shipped to Florida. It contained a sparkly card which mesmerized Greedy, who was sitting next to me, and a beautiful, embroidered fringed black shawl. Thank you so much Everhope, it was completely unexpected, and I was touched. And by the way, it is quite cool and silky when you drag it so very slowly across hot skin... *cough*... uhhh, not that I would know, of course.
I was holding up the shawl for all to see when Greedy set down a small white box in front of me. I was puzzled as I took off the lid and removed a beautiful polished cherry wood box from the container. It was quite heavy for its size, with a brass hinge. I opened the wood box and the first thing I noticed was the mirror inside the lid. There was something sparkling in the mirror, and that's when it hit me. I was staring at a diamond and black pearl necklace. My mouth gaped open and I looked at those around me. CJ was saying something and I just stared at him until it sunk in... this was from all of them, from CJ and the Girls. I believe he said, "We wanted to get you something really special." Well, you certainly did. Wow. Just Wow.
Then Greedy, the gatekeeper of presents, set down another box in front of me. There's more? No, there can't be more, I can't even think anymore. It was a blue box. A pale blue box with gold lettering: Tiffany & Co. I looked at the box and opened and closed my mouth several times before I managed to get anything out, and said, "Sundowner... that's a Sundowner special." Our dear sweet Sundowner has an affinity for little pale blue boxes. I was nothing short of stunned when I opened the box to find a beautiful charm shaped like a wrapped gift. These were not the gag gifts I was expecting.
Then Miss Greedy held out an envelope, which I accepted with hands that I found were now shaking. There couldn't be anything else. There just couldn't. I opened the envelope and slid the card out in a daze. I opened the card and suddenly the words swam out of focus as I realized what it was. It was birthday wishes from dozens of CMers that couldn't be there, solicited and compiled by Sundowner. You could have knocked me over with a feather. It moved me to tears.
Later there were blueberries and chocolate-covered strawberries from a special lady from the local group that I had only just met. What a thoughtful and gracious thing to do. Thank you Donna.
CJ, the Girls, Sundowner, all the CMers that wrote in, all the peeps that called and wished me happy birthday, you all blew me away, every single person involved in this, and I'm still stunned. The word "wow" just doesn't cover it, but it's the word I found myself, and still find myself, repeating over and over.
Again, thank you all. You have no idea how truly special this was, no idea.
Cali
(who thinks she's in love with every last one of you)
|
|
|
|
