Read Thread: MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Oct 28, 2007 5:32pm
Well... Her birthday surprise has come and gone...and I'm just now getting myself together to get the "results" posted. The following is a copy of her "journal" for that day. It's a bit long, but funny!
I want to again say "thank you" so much for participating. I've caught up on getting all our stamps done to return to everyone & those will be going out in the mail this week to those that participated.
You can also see the photo album at:
http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewalbum.html?gAlbumId=620
Fiendish Birthday Surprise
a/k/a
You’ve Come a Long Way Baby
Cast of Characters (And believe me, some of these people are REAL characters)
BB’s Gal (My Sister Cheryl)
Basket Case (My Daughter Susi)
MonsterJamMan (My Grandson PJ)
Accomplice (My Son-In-Law Ron)
Reluctant Boxer (My Husband Wally)
Supporting Cast … Letterboxers from all over the U.S.
Prologue
BB’s Gal decided she and BasketCase needed to do something special for my 59th birthday—some kind of surprise. After all, what could be more surprising than throwing a 60th birthday party on my 59th birthday?
Knowing how much I enjoy letterboxing, they wanted to tie in a letterboxing theme. BasketCase came up with the idea of soliciting other letterboxers to send me birthday greetings, which she would put into a journal. BB’s Gal thought it would be even more fun to hide the journal in a letterbox and have me find it.
Scene 1 - Weeks Prior to Labor Day 2007
BasketCase sent out emails and posts asking letterboxers to send her postcards containing their signature stamp and a birthday greeting. She collected those over several weeks and created a journal bound with ribbons and decorated with birthday-themed embellishments. (Boy, am I ashamed of all the fun I made of her scrapbooking hobby!)
Scene 2 – The Week Before Labor Day 2007
BasketCase, Accomplice and MonsterJamMan scouted out a trail at Kickapoo State Park where we would be camping over the Labor Day Weekend, and found the perfect hiding place. She then faked an LbNA clue dated--coincidentally-- on my birthday and printed a copy.
Scene 3 – Early Morning, September 1, 2007
BasketCase, BB’s Gal, Monster Jam Man and I joined TrixieCane and Gang to look for a letterbox at nearby Homer Lake. I was first to locate the box and opened it to find a Hitchhiker inside. After stamping in, I left to supervise the boys while the others stamped in.
Later as we returned along the trail, I remembered the hitchhiker and asked who had picked it up. Everyone said, “I didn’t, didn’t you?” Oh well, we were running late for a family dinner and there wasn’t time to go back for it.
Scene 4 – Early Afternoon, Same Day
BB’s Gal stealthfully passed the hitchhiker to Accomplice—yes, my sister lied to me—with instructions to add it to the letterbox he and Reluctant Boxer were hiding later that day.
Scene 5 – Late Afternoon, Same Day
Leaving the family dinner, BasketCase, BB’s Gal and I went in a separate vehicle so we could letterbox on the way back to the campground. Unknown to me Accomplice, Reluctant Boxer, and MonsterJamMan headed for the trail to hide the box.
Scene 6 – Traveling Between Letterbox Finds
BasketCase casually mentioned a new box just posted in Kickapoo State Park. Of course, I jumped on it and said, “Are you kidding, I haven’t seen any new boxes posted on LbNA. Let me see the clue.” I noticed the posting date and again maintained I hadn’t seen it posted. I was reluctant to go after another box that late in the day, when Reluctant Boxer and Accomplice were waiting for dinner. Plus, I was unfamiliar with the trail listed in the clue and didn’t have any idea how long it would take to find the box. I should add here, BasketCase and I are known to completely lose track of time when boxing and often frustrate our spouses in the process.
Scene 7 – The Plot Thickens
BasketCase called her Dad to let him know we were back in the Park and were going after one more box. He told her he and Accomplice decided they weren’t really hungry so not to worry about supper. BasketCase turned to me and said, “Are you feeling better about taking time for this box now, Mom?”
Scene 8 – The Mystery Trail
As we arrived at the trailhead, BB’s Gal said, “We’ve each found a box today. Here Linda, you do the clues on this one.” So, down the trail we headed with me in charge of the clues. As we arrived near the location of the letterbox, BB’s Gal and BasketCase hung back. I of course didn’t notice because I was ON THE HUNT!
My first thought as I neared the hiding place and saw the box was, “Some Idiot planted a box with frilly ribbons on it!!! This can be seen from below and give away the box’s location!!” I showed the box to BB’s Gal and BasketCase and said, “Can you believe someone hid a box like this?!!”
I sat down and opened the box to log in and the first thing I saw was the Hitchhiker from that morning--how did that get here??? Ok, you’ve already guessed it so I might as well confess, I’m not very perceptive. A “new” letterbox clue that just happens to be planted on my birthday, a letterbox planted in a strange manner, the appearance of a hitchhiker I was told was left in a box miles away…and I still didn’t suspect anything until I saw the logbook for the surprise box.
Epilogue
Oh my goodness!!! I was absolutely floored by the whole thing and the great job the Cast did in pulling off such a complete surprise. BB’s Gal and BasketCase had a great time saying “Gotcha!” and filling me in on all their scheming.
I’ve SO enjoyed looking at the logbook and reading all the messages. I’m awed and humbled by how many people took time to contribute to my birthday surprise. BasketCase and I will be sending out individual cards to all who participated. Thank you just doesn’t seem to cover it, so I’ll say “Happy Boxing, and ‘Hope to See You On the Trails!”
I want to again say "thank you" so much for participating. I've caught up on getting all our stamps done to return to everyone & those will be going out in the mail this week to those that participated.
You can also see the photo album at:
http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewalbum.html?gAlbumId=620
Fiendish Birthday Surprise
a/k/a
You’ve Come a Long Way Baby
Cast of Characters (And believe me, some of these people are REAL characters)
BB’s Gal (My Sister Cheryl)
Basket Case (My Daughter Susi)
MonsterJamMan (My Grandson PJ)
Accomplice (My Son-In-Law Ron)
Reluctant Boxer (My Husband Wally)
Supporting Cast … Letterboxers from all over the U.S.
Prologue
BB’s Gal decided she and BasketCase needed to do something special for my 59th birthday—some kind of surprise. After all, what could be more surprising than throwing a 60th birthday party on my 59th birthday?
Knowing how much I enjoy letterboxing, they wanted to tie in a letterboxing theme. BasketCase came up with the idea of soliciting other letterboxers to send me birthday greetings, which she would put into a journal. BB’s Gal thought it would be even more fun to hide the journal in a letterbox and have me find it.
Scene 1 - Weeks Prior to Labor Day 2007
BasketCase sent out emails and posts asking letterboxers to send her postcards containing their signature stamp and a birthday greeting. She collected those over several weeks and created a journal bound with ribbons and decorated with birthday-themed embellishments. (Boy, am I ashamed of all the fun I made of her scrapbooking hobby!)
Scene 2 – The Week Before Labor Day 2007
BasketCase, Accomplice and MonsterJamMan scouted out a trail at Kickapoo State Park where we would be camping over the Labor Day Weekend, and found the perfect hiding place. She then faked an LbNA clue dated--coincidentally-- on my birthday and printed a copy.
Scene 3 – Early Morning, September 1, 2007
BasketCase, BB’s Gal, Monster Jam Man and I joined TrixieCane and Gang to look for a letterbox at nearby Homer Lake. I was first to locate the box and opened it to find a Hitchhiker inside. After stamping in, I left to supervise the boys while the others stamped in.
Later as we returned along the trail, I remembered the hitchhiker and asked who had picked it up. Everyone said, “I didn’t, didn’t you?” Oh well, we were running late for a family dinner and there wasn’t time to go back for it.
Scene 4 – Early Afternoon, Same Day
BB’s Gal stealthfully passed the hitchhiker to Accomplice—yes, my sister lied to me—with instructions to add it to the letterbox he and Reluctant Boxer were hiding later that day.
Scene 5 – Late Afternoon, Same Day
Leaving the family dinner, BasketCase, BB’s Gal and I went in a separate vehicle so we could letterbox on the way back to the campground. Unknown to me Accomplice, Reluctant Boxer, and MonsterJamMan headed for the trail to hide the box.
Scene 6 – Traveling Between Letterbox Finds
BasketCase casually mentioned a new box just posted in Kickapoo State Park. Of course, I jumped on it and said, “Are you kidding, I haven’t seen any new boxes posted on LbNA. Let me see the clue.” I noticed the posting date and again maintained I hadn’t seen it posted. I was reluctant to go after another box that late in the day, when Reluctant Boxer and Accomplice were waiting for dinner. Plus, I was unfamiliar with the trail listed in the clue and didn’t have any idea how long it would take to find the box. I should add here, BasketCase and I are known to completely lose track of time when boxing and often frustrate our spouses in the process.
Scene 7 – The Plot Thickens
BasketCase called her Dad to let him know we were back in the Park and were going after one more box. He told her he and Accomplice decided they weren’t really hungry so not to worry about supper. BasketCase turned to me and said, “Are you feeling better about taking time for this box now, Mom?”
Scene 8 – The Mystery Trail
As we arrived at the trailhead, BB’s Gal said, “We’ve each found a box today. Here Linda, you do the clues on this one.” So, down the trail we headed with me in charge of the clues. As we arrived near the location of the letterbox, BB’s Gal and BasketCase hung back. I of course didn’t notice because I was ON THE HUNT!
My first thought as I neared the hiding place and saw the box was, “Some Idiot planted a box with frilly ribbons on it!!! This can be seen from below and give away the box’s location!!” I showed the box to BB’s Gal and BasketCase and said, “Can you believe someone hid a box like this?!!”
I sat down and opened the box to log in and the first thing I saw was the Hitchhiker from that morning--how did that get here??? Ok, you’ve already guessed it so I might as well confess, I’m not very perceptive. A “new” letterbox clue that just happens to be planted on my birthday, a letterbox planted in a strange manner, the appearance of a hitchhiker I was told was left in a box miles away…and I still didn’t suspect anything until I saw the logbook for the surprise box.
Epilogue
Oh my goodness!!! I was absolutely floored by the whole thing and the great job the Cast did in pulling off such a complete surprise. BB’s Gal and BasketCase had a great time saying “Gotcha!” and filling me in on all their scheming.
I’ve SO enjoyed looking at the logbook and reading all the messages. I’m awed and humbled by how many people took time to contribute to my birthday surprise. BasketCase and I will be sending out individual cards to all who participated. Thank you just doesn’t seem to cover it, so I’ll say “Happy Boxing, and ‘Hope to See You On the Trails!”
Re: MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #146890 by BasketCase
Oct 28, 2007 5:35pm
Your Mom looks young for 59!
Re: MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #146892 by Rosmarinus
Oct 28, 2007 5:40pm
She thanks you!! Says she's young at heart!!
(We're sitting here on "duelling" computers reading posts....)
BasketCase
Re: MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #146890 by BasketCase
Oct 28, 2007 6:18pm
What a cute story, and great surprise! Thanks for sharing! Too funny that the curly green ribbons weren't figured out immediately (sounds like something I'd do - lol!!)
Mama Fox
Mama Fox
Re: MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #146890 by BasketCase
Oct 28, 2007 7:06pm
So funny! Did you get all indignant too? (laughing)
Re: MrsHat's 59th Birthday Surprise
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #146890 by BasketCase
Oct 29, 2007 8:38am
That is so awesome!!! What a great birthday tale!!! :)
-gollygee
-gollygee
