Surprise!!

     The holidays are full of surprises.  Between the presents and the people, it's almost too much to take.  I got my first surprise of the holidays on Wednesday.  At the time it wasn't very funny.  Everyone but me was laughing, but by the end of the evening even I was laughing, but I'm still not quite recovered from the shock.  My mom was coming to spend the holidays with my daughter and I.  I had her arrival marked on the calendar.  Saturday 10 December at around 8:00pm.  Right there on my iPhone Calendar.  I had my alerts and everything.   However, I was wrong, dead wrong.
     I received a call on Wednesday evening at about 5:30 from my Aunt Candy.  "Hi, I just thought you'd like to know your mom is in Oakland, getting ready to board the plane for Portland."  Stone cold silence on my end and then " Did you say she was in Oakland getting ready to board the plane for Portland?!"  My whole body went numb.  "That can't be right, I have her arriving on Saturday at 8:00pm."  There was a pause on the other end and then peals of laughter erupted into the phone.  "Ha!  I thought I was the only one that got dates confused!!  I guess not! " followed by LOTS more laughter.  I was thinking to myself, this isn't really very funny.  I am NOT ready!!  So much still left to be done.  Kaysie had 3 tests this week, I had a huge work party to get together,  oh this is not good!!
     I immediately ran and did a quick tidy up (grandma cleaning was performed last weekend, thank goodness!!)and whisked Kaysie off to Ikea at the airport for a quick dinner and then we picked up mom. Whose plain, by the way, arrived 20 minutes early (of Course!!)  What a mess.  We found her and got her home to our house and ever since then we have been dancing around each other while we all settled in.  The tests got taken and the party at work is now done.  She can be here now and we will begin to enjoy our visit.
     It was funny, looking back.  I don't think I've ever been caught that un prepared for an out of town guest.  I love my mom dearly and I'm always glad to see her.  So many of my good friends don't have their mothers any more, and I feel so lucky that she is still able to come and stay with us.  We love having her for Christmas and now that all the stressful things are done we can just enjoy each other and settle in for the season.  She's supposed to be here now and now I'm ready.   Have a happy holiday season with those you love weather you are expecting them or surprised that they are there!  Cheers!