I was wrong.

I am so thankful that I am able to admit that when I am wrong.

Unfortunately, I've had a lot of disappointments in my life, and one of the ways I've managed to avoid having even more is to try to not get my hopes up for stuff. Also, I have a tendency to use the past as an indicator of what the future will bring, all in that effort to not be let down, to not be hurt, to not be disappointed.

Let's just say I'm a little jaded sometimes, shall we?

Anyway, not only did my husband NOT not plan anything for the evening of my birthday, he planned the ONLY surprise party I've ever gotten in my entire life! That wasn't the only first of the evening though...

That's right folks, Miss M finally, after thirty long years of waiting and wondering what she missed out on, got to go to Chuck E Cheese.

Now, this might seem strange to some folks, a thirty year old woman having a birthday party at a children's pizza joint, but you have to understand. I had a REALLY rough childhood. I never really got to do the normal kid things, like, say, having birthday parties. I only recall one actual party, when I was seven, where there was cake and presents and kids other than my brothers. The fact of the matter was that when I was a kid, your birthday gift consisted of you not having to do any chores that day. That's it. If you wanted a cake, mom would hand you five bucks and you'd walk to the corner store to buy a box of cake mix and some frosting. Forget about asking for presents. Presents were the sole domain of the Christmas holiday.

Not only did we not get birthday parties, we weren't allowed to go to anyone else's party either. Nope, while all the other kids were gathering and having slumber parties, and yes, pizza parties at Chuck E Cheese, we were at home, sad about missing another party and knowing that everyone would be talking about it at school the next day. Sad times.

So, I went home and changed into some jeans, then he BLINDFOLDED ME (!!!) and drove me to dinner. I was walked in and when I took off the blindfold, there was a table with my friends and coworkers and balloons and presents and Hello Kitty decorations, all for me! No one has ever done anything like this for me before. Every party I've ever had I've thrown for myself.

I am so lucky, and so blessed to have such a great husband, and such great coworkers and friends to keep that a secret through all my bellyaching all week, even if rooms manager did make me cry...twice. (I doubt anyone there reads this, but you know, just in case, for his benefit.)

I played air hockey (kicked butt), skeeball (sucked butt) whackamole (not too shabby at that) and various other games. I ate pizza that was surprisingly good, cake that was sinfully good (from Honeymoon Sweets!!!) and got home that night a sweaty, tired mess.

I don't know how kids do it!