Best Birthday Ever

This blog is going to fall incredibly short of what it is about, simply because there just aren't any words....for something like this.

Yesterday was my birthday. Started off pretty slow...actually it was pretty dull and even at times a bit depressing.

I went to the store to stock up on beer because my parents (Ron and Cindy, adoptive parents, not the parents I usually blog about) were coming over around 4:00 or 4:30 and I wanted to grab an extra 18-pack because they're on sale for $20. I also bought the ingredients to make my signature salad, some soda for Trevor. On the way home, stopped at the package store and picked up some nippers of UV Cake flavored vodka because my parents LOVED it, and so do I - just gotta do it in moderation!!

Also splurged a little and went to Homegoods and picked up a salad bowl ($9.99)....can't beat it, especially if you don't own a salad bowl.

I spent most of the morning texting Bill...he was actually the first one to wish me happy birthday, since he'd texted me at 12 a.m. to do it. He also called me and sang Happy Birthday to me. It was rather funny. He's so amazing and funny.

Anyway, a few weeks ago, I sent him an electric skillet so he could cook in the motel room in the god-awful city where he's working. I suggested yesterday that he have chilli and sent him the ingredients and a quick way to make it. He was grateful, as always.

That's pretty much how my morning went. Texting Bill, didn't hear much from Ron and Cindy (she texted me once, to tell me happy birthday) but I figured that was just because she was hard at work, preparing one of my favorite foods: Baked stuffed shrimp.

Finally got a text around 3 o'clock: "ETA 1 hr" (from Cindy).

I was in the kitchen - I was texting Hannah how to make my signature salad - which I'd just finished and put in the fridge, ready to go. So I was texting Hannah and Ron and Cindy came into the mudroom. I opened the door to see handsful of bags and whatnot....apparently Ron was famished so we opened up some crackers and Hellagood dip. They had with them a silver-wrapped bottle and Cindy says, "I bet you know what THAT is!" and of course I knew - it was a bottle of Cake LOL! Anyway when I showed them the nippers I'd bought, they wanted to do one. Right Then!

So I got three out, we opened the nippers, cheered to my birthday, drank them down and I immediately was overwhelmed with sadness that Bill wasnt there - that he couldn't do a nipper with us, he couldn't be there with me.

"I need to call Bill," I told them. "I don't want him to be left out."

I called him, put him on speakerphone so everyone could talk to him. "Hi Bill!" they said, and I spoke to him and told him that I'd just done a nipper and I felt bad!

I told him I missed him. Told him I wished he was here.

"Well, then, why don't you come out into the front yard and give me a hug?"

All I remember after that is screaming, "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!" as I ran - RAN - to the front door and there he was....standing there, roses in hand.... I couldn't get the door open fast enough...

I flung the door open, ran outside, still screaming, "OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!"

I jumped at him, wrapped my arms around him, sobbed....just cried and cried...

We hugged. We kissed. Ron and Cindy stood at the front door watching. I don't know who else might have been watching - I didn't even think about it. Even now, I can't think of a single word to describe what I was going through in that moment.

I put my hands to his face, crying, "You're here...you came! You're here..." I could barely speak. We shook, I shook. My whole body was shaking - which lasted for quite awhile. I was so discombobulated. It occurred to me that I should bring him in the apartment...

He came in...Cindy was crying...

I was shaking.

I didn't know which direction to walk in. I was completely thrown. My head was swimming. I couldn't believe it was real. I kept touching him. I didn't want to let him go. It was like a dream.

At least two more times, as I hugged him through the evening, I sobbed. I cried. Bill even cried once.

Nobody was hungry....it was the funniest thing...and naturally, once things calmed down a little, we did another nipper, with Bill included this time. My hands shaking...

I was still crying.

"You should put those flowers in a vase, honey," Cindy said.

"Oh..oh yes..oh okay..."

Bill was there for me to ask, "Can you do me a favor and give me that vase?" (I have only one and it's on the top shelf where I can't reach it).

He got the vase down. I was so confused....I trimmed the roses so they'd fit...I didn't know what I was doing. I carried it to the sink...

I stood there, just lost... and Cindy said, "Cold water, honey. On the right." I laughed at myself, with a shaky laugh.

 Finally as things settled a little more, we sat in the living room. I sat in a chair, Bill sat on the floor next to me, his arm resting on my lap. Cindy made dinner (a fantastic dinner), and Ron, Bill and I sat in the living room. I was just stunned.

"These are good memories," Ron told me. "These are the ones you hold onto."

Everything seems to be a blur, until we sat down at the table to eat, though none of us were really hungry! We were so overwhelmed! But dinner was fantastic and as we sat there, Bill said...

"Now that we're all together, Mr. and Mrs. Kuptzin, I would like to officially ask your permission to court your daughter."

My mouth fell open. Literally. (thankfully there wasn't any food in there)

"Absolutely!" they said, almost in unison.

Then at some point Bill gives me a box - a little white box - and he says, "I'm sorry I didn't have time to wrap it." I open it and it's a silver and gold butterfly necklace. So beautiful....

I was also given a pair of butterfly earrings from my canine sister - Bailey - as well as a new office chair from my parents.

I cannot adequately put into words, how astonishing this birthday was. It is very difficult to surprise me, but this past few weeks have been full of surprises.

Thank you...thank you Ron, Cindy and Bill for the most incredible, memorable, unforgettable, fantastic birthday I could ever have dreamt of.

I'm still reeling.

Bill leaves Wednesday and I will be so, so sad...but I have until then to enjoy the best birthday present I have ever gotten.