Tag Archives: surprise

Jan20

unexpected.

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last night when i walked outside

i tripped over a bag left at my front door

it was filled with treats

cookies, candy, and ice cream

(the three c’s, the holy trinity of sweets, cake can be subbed in as needed)

i had no idea who it was from, no note inside, such a great surprise

then i noticed the address

guessed the delivery person had just reversed it

i could go and deliver it myself

 tried to imagine who was waiting for it

maybe

it was from a parent

who sent it to their child/college student cramming for an exam?

the victim of a recent romantic breakup needing sugar therapy?

a parent who just needed a break and a treat?

a dieter on a sweets bender?

a family waiting for dessert to go with their board game?

a hallmark movie night for friends?

was it a test from the universe

to challenge my recent healthy eating resolve?

cadbury is my favorite chocolate

 the cookies aren’t that big

 i could eat one spoon of ice cream a day

i had no idea how long it had been out there

no one had knocked

the ice cream was beginning to soften

i felt for whoever was expecting it

called the company on the bag

they said the customer had reordered when it didn’t arrive

they had already sent them out a new bag of treats

 i was welcome to eat it or throw it out

i chose a third option

i delivered this unexpected gift to my daughter

at her house in the light of day.

—

“life is always bringing unexpected gifts.”

-may sarton

Apr18

the price is right.

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my colleague recently ordered a book online for her classroom

 then added a second book

because it was such a deal at the great price of $2.50.

when her order arrived, she only saw one book

until upon further inspection

she discovered

much to her surprise

sitting in the corner of the box

the $2.50 book

which was actually a miniature edition

 while it was technically a book

 it was perhaps better sized for the fairy world

though still a good deal

as we definitely had more than $2.50 worth of laughs.

—

“the best things in life are free – and $19.95”

-billy mays

 

Mar29

good fortune.

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‘a friend will bring you a big surprise soon’

– a surprise good fortune left for me today by my friend at the car wash

“acknowledge your good fortune by sharing it.”

-stephen king

Feb22

what’s your secret?

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i’ll never forget that wonderful yellow cake with the warm apple topping

 my mom would sometimes serve us after dinner

 years later when i was a mom

i thought of it again

asking her for the very fancy recipe

 she was surprised

oh that? it wasn’t fancy at all

i bought a pre-made pound cake, cut it into slices,

heated up a can of apple pie filling, and poured it on top.

then i was the one who was surprised.

—

What secret family recipe is in your lineage?

—

“don’t let the secret recipe die with the inventor.”

-nathan myhrvold

Aug25

off to see the wizard.

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(picture me as the one in the dress without braids, sparkly shoes, or little dog)

when going to the library

to pick up books i had ordered

i walked into the lobby

to grab them off the shelf

 the rest of the library was still closed

it was dead silent

no other people were around

but i swear that i heard someone talking to me

i looked in all directions and didn’t see anyone

i heard someone speak once again

 looked up to see a giant head on a screen

 asking if i was there for a book

my eyes got huge (and i possibly jumped a bit)

so unexpected – talking to a head on a screen

i then knew how dorothy must have felt in the wizard of oz

when she saw the wizard’s head projected on the big curtain

i thanked the giant head, grabbed my books, and walked down the street

thinking about how much i love being surprised by life.

—

happy 81st anniversary to the wizard of oz

(i now have a new appreciation for it)

—

“be unprepared, that’s my motto. let life surprise you.”

-marty rubin

—

image credit: metro goldwyn mayer

Mar24

release.

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after what had turned into

a very crazy up and down and all over the place day

i had one last task to complete

making a copy of a document to be delivered

realized i was at my limit

when i held up my car key

pointed it at the big red doors

trying to use the door open button on my key

to exit the store.

 it didn’t work.

then the door did open.

i made eye contact with someone entering the store

while i was trying to push button my way out.

we both smiled.

tomorrow is another day.

—

“humor comes from the surprise release of some buried tension.”

-lorrie moore

Dec10

golden.

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feeling grateful

for a wonderful surprise

from two of my friends

who gave me their set of original golden books

something i have always wanted 

since i was a young child.

they knew i would treasure them.

—

“life is always bringing unexpected gifts.”

-mary sarton

Oct29

sing.

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what a wonderful surprise

when at my salon

in the midst of the day’s music

‘say my name’ came on

 one of the stylists

began singing along

 before long

some of the staff

joined in

clients were

at least smiling if not singing

the space was filled with

song and dance and laughter

a sudden burst of happiness for no reason

the best kind

the woman cutting my hair

asked out loud

“why not?”

exactly.

—

“the only thing better than singing is more singing. 

-ella fitzgerald

 

 

 

—

image credit: john drysdale, 1978, london, england

Sep18

encore une fois. (once again)

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glenn frey the rocker, (r.i.p.) and the eagles returning for one of many expected encores. 

glenn frey the cat has returned for a very unexpected encore.

his doctor gave him a last minute reprieve

offered him another chance

with new protocols and fingers crossed.

it may not last long

 he’s not in pain

and is purring again

so we’ll take it one encore at a time.

he and i were both equally surprised

olive took it all in stride.

 glenn still has no idea how big he really is

the lumbering giant

thinks he’s a kitten

knocking over everything in his way

he’s lived at least 3 lives since i’ve known him

that means 6ish still to go

and he’s still not ready to leave the stage for good, just yet.

—

“the encore is the short piece after the program has finished,

where the performer brings out something the audience doesn’t expect.”

-hillary hahn

 

 

Jun28

coffee talk.

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nothing like waking up early

 sipping a warm cup of strong coffee

 chewing on something that seems like a berry

 your brain catching up

and wondering

why there is a berry in your cup

because you don’t normally

add berries to your coffee

and you spit it out

only to discover

that it was really a random giant ant not a berry

who climbed into your cup

in the time it took you to walk out of the room and back

and you have unwittingly shared your coffee with him

and he, with you.

—

“it is not enough to be busy. so are the ants. the question is: what are we busy about?”

-henry david thoreau