Did not see it coming

Last Saturday, Millari threw a surprise party to celebrate my receiving my MA. It was, I think, the first surprise party anyone has ever organized on my behalf--certainly, the first that I can recall being surprised by. She was extremely devious: I knew that we were going to MAMEd's place to hang out, and I figured there would be happiness and congratulations, but when I walked in, we went into the downstairs rec room, and I thought "ah, something's up" but I was stunned by how many people were there. Friends who didn't know each other had shown up, just for me. MAMEd's kids had decorated the place with a big banner reading "It's The End of World As We Know It!" (the song of that name started playing as I walked in) and done the room up to look like a frozen over hell with winged pig overhead. Millari had baked me a cake and gotten cookie dough ice cream from Herrell's, running back and forth down to Ludlow to set this up.

I had a really fun time, as did my friends I think, but what really moved me about the whole experience, even beyond my joy at for once being on the receiving end of such a lovely suprise, was how many people had come down to, in effect, pay attention to me. And I didn't have to stress about it, arranged it, control it, or do anything to make it happen or to make it safe. I didn't have to put on a show for the crowd. Everyone came because they knew me and liked me. I think I could get used to experiences like this.

This makes two great little parties in my honor that Millari has arranged, just to make me happy. Thank you, sweetie.