in't Life Hum'rous!....

Anniversary Time

"Where're ya goin', Girl?"

"I'd tell ya, but I'd have ta..." With a finger-cut across her throat, my daughter answers my question.

Usually such jargon would never find its way to the tip of her tongue; but for 6 months, she and her brothers have been planning for my hubby's and my anniversary. And since we're as close as any family can get, surprises are out of the question.

"What are you doing now, son?"

"I'd tell ya, but I'd have to..." The sound of the finger-cut across the throat sends me heading for cover. Naturally, I wonder if so many of these threats would eventually stunt my curiosity. To make sure this doesn't happen, I do what moms do, spy.

On one covert operation, I inspected their fingernails. Their diet of high protein went in to my report. Night sightings became frequent and recon revealed the reason for the dark circles under their eyes. High tension discussions behind closed doors could explain the tear gas grenade under my oldest's bed.

I didn't really learn that much except they were as nervous as a bomb squad with only 3 seconds to boogie.

Well, the day FINALLY arrived. They arranged for a 5-day bash with gifts, a treasure hunt, a special menu, movies and games. But the real clincher? Hubby and I weren't allowed to do any work. They did it ALL! (And it's a gas watching them scatter in 6 directions doing what I do every day.) Could I get used to this? YES.

But the event soon came to an end, things got back to normal, and the kids started their 6-month recuperation process.

My husband took me aside the night it was all over and said:

"Hon, how 'bout tellng them the anniversary of when we met, our first date, when I proposed, our first kiss, and the first wedding rehearsal..."

"Mm, I like it."