Hot Air Balloon Gifts

SisterBeezus says:

It was the day of my 16th birthday AND the day I took & passed my driver's license test, meaning I could finally drive my beloved red Acura all by myself, which was the only thing I wanted to do. Dad insisted we see Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade at one of the theaters on Brand (I want to say The Alex), which I would normally be totally down for, but I just wanted to drive! I had also already seen that particular movie twice, I think both times had even been in that same week. It was a little much of Junior. I argued with Dad so much (read: so well. Just sayin') that he eventually broke down and just told me that there was something being delivered to the house for me as a surprise and he was charged with keeping me away and would I please just stop making it so hard on him already! 

Ok, confession time. Like most guests of honor at a surprise party, I absolutely knew ahead of time that it was happening. My best friend at school buckled under the stress & gave me a mercy tell. I've always been afraid to host a party; certain nobody would show & it would end up as a very public humiliation, so of course I was terrified that no one would come to my surprise party, but had to suffer it in silence because I didn't want to ruin it for everone else – your point about it being for the hosts & not the guest of honor is dead-on.

The one successful and very great surprise was flying Cookie home to visit. I'll never forget seeing her wrapped in bows & balloons. The only problem was I had a houseful of guests now in the way of me being with the best friend I desperately missed. But it was worth it to get to see her, and like all memories I now mostly remember the good parts, not the awkwardness or frustration. I remember the EPIC cake you got, and I remember having fun in the pool and of course (the benefit of being friends with your sisters) I remember having you & Ess there with me; partners both in teen joy & teen humiliation. 

So pact is still in tact, especially for intervention parties, but I did feel loved that you'd want to make a big deal about my sweet 16. Even if I have to be in my 30's to fully realize I felt that!

And as for Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, when it's on tv I watch it all the way thru – because of the Dad happy memories.
(sorry for the essay! )  

SisterBeezus says:

It was the day of my 16th birthday AND the day I took & passed my driver’s license test, meaning I could finally drive my beloved red Acura all by myself, which was the only thing I wanted to do. Dad insisted we see Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade at one of the theaters on Brand (I want to say The Alex), which I would normally be totally down for, but I just wanted to drive! I had also already seen that particular movie twice, I think both times had even been in that same week. It was a little much of Junior. I argued with Dad so much (read: so well. Just sayin’) that he eventually broke down and just told me that there was something being delivered to the house for me as a surprise and he was charged with keeping me away and would I please just stop making it so hard on him already! Ok, confession time. Like most guests of honor at a surprise party, I absolutely knew ahead of time that it was happening. My best friend at school buckled under the stress & gave me a mercy tell. I’ve always been afraid to host a party; certain nobody would show & it would end up as a very public humiliation, so of course I was terrified that no one would come to my surprise party, but had to suffer it in silence because I didn’t want to ruin it for everone else – your point about it being for the hosts & not the guest of honor is dead-on.The one successful and very great surprise was flying Cookie home to visit. I’ll never forget seeing her wrapped in bows & balloons. The only problem was I had a houseful of guests now in the way of me being with the best friend I desperately missed. But it was worth it to get to see her, and like all memories I now mostly remember the good parts, not the awkwardness or frustration. I remember the EPIC cake you got, and I remember having fun in the pool and of course (the benefit of being friends with your sisters) I remember having you & Ess there with me; partners both in teen joy & teen humiliation. So pact is still in tact, especially for intervention parties, but I did feel loved that you’d want to make a big deal about my sweet 16. Even if I have to be in my 30′s to fully realize I felt that!And as for Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, when it’s on tv I watch it all the way thru – because of the Dad happy memories.(sorry for the essay! )