{working title}: Surprise!

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Surprise!

I'm the worst at surprises. Truly. From an early age, I've always been horrendous. Once we were with my Grandma when I was young (maybe 3-4ish) talking about her birthday. I was curious about what we were getting her for her present, so I asked my dad. He made me swear that I wouldn't tell her. I dutifully agreed and he whispered it to me. Not 2 seconds later I turned and excitedly informed my grandmother that she was getting a "Yadder" for her birthday. Surprised ruined.

Even now, 20 years later I completely suck at surprises. I'm not very good at receiving surprises because it throws off my whole schedule/check-list of the things I plan to get done during the day. I can't surprise anyone because I somehow give it away because I'm so excited about the surprise that I can't contain it. It's ridiculous really, but I think I'm still just a 3-year-old at heart, who is really excited about giving presents and surprises.

But today I finally succeeded at a surprise!

My parents and I are part of this service organization called SERTOMA. Its mission is to help the deaf and hard of hearing throughout the world. This weekend was the national convention for the group and it just so happens that my dad was to be awarded the Lifetime Service Award (along with three other men) from the outgoing president of the organization.

I don't want to inflate my dad's ego anymore than it already is, but he's a pretty darn cool guy. And he's done lots of stuff for the organization (Mom has too!). For some reason they think he's funny--some days I'm not really sure why--and it seems like people think he's pretty cool--I also question this... He has a reputation for loving dessert and there are usually people lined up during meals at conventions with their dessert plates for him to take off their hands. Last year at convention, he gave a presentation about being hard of hearing and the challenges it brings as well as how he has been able to reach out to others who are deaf/hard-of-hearing through this organization. He's served positions at the local, regional and national levels. So I guess he's pretty awesome and deserving of the award.

And the best part...he had NO idea he was getting it.

He also had no idea that Mama worked it out that I would surprise him as he was receiving the award. I don't think I've ever even seen my dad speechless, but he was this afternoon! I'm so proud of you Dad! Congratulations, you deserve it! (And congratulations Mama, we did it too! I'm not sure how you kept that under wraps since Christmastime!)