The most surprising surprise party

Today was the party to celebrate Cas' mother's 70th birthday.  It was intended to be a surprise party, and it was quite the effective surprise for everyone.  Jeanne was not there.  She was very sick and could not be present for the evening.  Apparently, it's rare for her to be down at all, let alone, down so far that she couldn't make it to this event.  All reports from Dave are that she slept most of the day and was running quite a fever when it came time to take her out to a planned "dinner with some friends."  She asked him to cancel, and that's when he spilled the beans.  There was supposed to be a surprise party.  She was to be the guest of honor.  Not the way it worked out.

Dave spent the beginning of the evening disappointing people as they arrived.  One after the next, he had to tell the guests that the guest of honor wasn't coming.  Of course, the whole thing was non-refundable.  Of course it was...  So, we did as we were instructed.  We ate, drank and attempted to be merry.

I had brought my very fancy camera, thinking it would be nice for her boys to have many photos to place together in some kind of keepsake for their mother, but it turned out to be the best manner for me to document the evening for the missing guest.

Just as last night was Cas family time, so was this evening.  Over the past two days, I have certainly been on display.  I kind of have some sympathy for the dogs in the Westminster Kennel Club shows.  I had to make the best impression I could.  I tried.

My plan still stands with the photos, though.  I want to get the best of them together and give them to Jeanne in some kind of book or keepsake.  I think that should be from Cas or from Cas and Chad.  I think that would make her happy.  In the meantime, I have to go to work in the morning, so let me leave you with this photo of me and my boyfriend.  I think we look pretty good.  He sure can wear the heck out of a suit...