October 15, 1017: My Own Magical Mystery Bus Tour

Flower Power - Patty, Robbie, Rox
After recent colorful postings on Facebook celebrating my 50th birthday, I fielded questions on the theme behind my gal pal celebration...

"Were you going to a Pink concert?"

"Why the peace movement?"

"Now that looked like fun. When is the next time and can I join??"

My 50th surprise celebration was 60's themed after my 1967 year of birth. And I got my very own Magical Mystery Bus Tour. I have always been the driver, but this was my first as the passenger.

Anyone in my family is well versed on these tours. Since my sons were little, I would load them in the car and simply say we were going on a Magical Mystery Bus Tour. Instead of debating what we were going to do, the conversation would instead be filled with enthusiastic guesses with my giving clues on our mystery destinations.

Today these outings would be known to most as 'forced family fun'. But no one in my home knew the better. Input from the kids was not allowed and they hadn't a clue that my approach was totalitarian in nature.

Depending on the day and available time frame, we would do everything from shopping at the Old Market candy store to having lunch at the zoo. Many times the boys' friends would accompany us with little voices filling the car as they excitedly tried to figure out where we were going.

Over the years, I would host Magical Mystery Bus Tours for my nieces and friends as they celebrated their many life milestones. Stops moved on to include sushi, art studios, and martini bars. With the Lane boys now adults, I still throw out a mystery tour when I can. And they still humor me in going.

On Garrett's recent birthday in June, I was talking to my youngest son, Grant, on the phone with Garrett in the room.

"What are you guys doing for Garrett's birthday?" he asked and then in a hushed tone after quick reflection, "Mom, are you taking him on a Magical Mystery Bus Tour? Sorry. I shouldn't have asked in front of Garrett."

They know the drill.

This go around, I got to be the lucky recipient. My very own Magical Mystery Bus Tour in a limo with five fabulous friends. A three-hour tour to be exact. Our stops included Benson's 1912, Dundee Dell, The Holiday and lastly, The Good Life. Our limo driver, John, was exceptional, taking good care of his flower power passengers.

A wonderful surprise. We ate cupcakes, opened gifts, and sipped champagne. And we laughed and laughed. Friendship...the best gift of all.

Robbie, Rox, Denise, Sandy, Theresa, Patty

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

November 20, 2016: A New View

Image
I took this picture through the lens of my new set of eyes. The hike was this Saturday at Horsetooth Reservoir outside of Fort Collins, Colorado. In the company of my husband, son, step-son, and friend, we were taking in God's beauty through the final walk of the trail. I was purposely poking behind. "Sandy, why are you so far back?" Garrett called out to me shortly after this picture was taken. My absence from the pack was noticed. But I was in my own world, taking it all in. "Coming!" I hollered back, picking it up a bit. Free of contacts and glasses, my vision was sharp and the color of nature seemed full of a clarity that I had not noticed before. The beauty of Colorado, mountains, and nature are not new to me. My life has been full of many adventures and aesthetic sights. What was different was my new personal view. Wearing some form of glasses or contacts since junior high, I had never experienced this heightened awareness through my own lenses....
Read more

July 15, 2013: Swimming Pool Blues

Image
I am Miss USA to the left and Bev, Miss America, to the right. With my many years of running and recent addition of cycling to my repertoire, I am frequently asked the question, "Why don't you do a triathlon?"  My answer has always been, "I'm not a very good swimmer. I would sink." I have perfected the dog paddle, but past that; my skills are limited. This statement does seem a bit odd based on my childhood summers spent with endless, parentless hours at the pool. An inquiring mind would wonder how I could have slipped through those many sun-filled years without a whistle twirling around my finger and my butt situated in a lifeguard seat. I am going to have to blame this one on my mom; the woman who virtually does nothing wrong. But in this case, her snap decision to remedy a wardrobe malfunction with a safety pin totally derailed my swimming future. My wardrobe was designed and sewn by my talented seamstress mother. Mom had a l...
Read more