Surprise!

This is adapted from something I posted on the Weight Watchers website October 11, 2009. Now that I am on Facebook, I wanted to find a good way to share this true story.

I live in Milwaukee, have been married 31 years to Jim, have a daughter, Bekah, 22 at school in Madison 2 hours away, another Naomi, 20 living 15 minutes away, a son Seth in Seattle, age 25, and another son, Hyatt in Dallas, age 28. This story includes them all.

I'd been excited for several days because Friday morning Seth was arriving, I hadn't seen him since Feb. I hadn't seen Hyatt in 2 1/2 years, and he said he'd be unable to visit at this time because it's a busy time at work. I'd dreamed of reuniting the immediate family, we haven't been together since March of 2005. It's become more of a wish since Naomi, the youngest, moved out, and I've got those empty nest aches even though DM moved in last year with me and Jim, DH of 31 years. I'm the primary caregiver for both.

So that's the background.I was also upset with Naomi because she said that she and her fiance Dan, 29 (that's another story) had plans Friday night and couldn't come see her brother. [Bekah and her BF Dan live in Madison and were on the way here as I typed.]

So...I picked Seth up Friday morning, and had a wonderful time with him. After supper, the door opened, and in walked Hyatt! I hugged him and cried. Naomi's plans had been to pick him up. He and Seth hadn't seen each other in 4 1/2 years, but they of course wouldn't get emotional in front of us. It turns out that Jim and the kids had planned this surprise for me, and they all kept me in the dark. I still get misty thinking about it. So with Bekah driving in, we'd all be together again.

Woo Hoo! Naomi put the photographs from our gathering in her Facebook album.