Surprise!
@RawBill1 (8531)
Gold Coast, Australia
April 19, 2011 6:03pm CST
As many of my friends here are aware, my daughter is currently on a trip a two hour flight away visiting family. This was a trip that she planned and paid for all by herself and has been four months in the making. 
Well, last night at 6pm local time, the most special moment of the trip played itself out!
While she was organising the trip, she contacted a few of the family members from my wife's family and my family to stay with. She did not however contact her most precious family member, which is her Grandmother. (My Mum) When she came up with the idea of the trip, she wanted to surprise grandma by just turning up at her house. It did not turn out that way, but the surprise went very well.
I rang my daughter on the mobile phone that we gave her for the trip and she said that she was with my sister on the way to a local pub where they were going out for dinner with my parents. When they got to the hotel, my daughter told me that Grandma was already there, so I hung up from her and then rang my mum. I was talking to her about this and that, the conversation was very relaxed until she yelled "Jesus Christ!" and then burst into amazed laughter. 
She could not believe that my daughter was there, she got such a shock and was so happy to see her! It was great that I was on the phone for this as I got to share in the surprise. Hopefully someone was secretly filming it or at least got photos of her face at the time!
Have you ever surprised anybody like this, or been surprised?
Well, last night at 6pm local time, the most special moment of the trip played itself out!
While she was organising the trip, she contacted a few of the family members from my wife's family and my family to stay with. She did not however contact her most precious family member, which is her Grandmother. (My Mum) When she came up with the idea of the trip, she wanted to surprise grandma by just turning up at her house. It did not turn out that way, but the surprise went very well.
I rang my daughter on the mobile phone that we gave her for the trip and she said that she was with my sister on the way to a local pub where they were going out for dinner with my parents. When they got to the hotel, my daughter told me that Grandma was already there, so I hung up from her and then rang my mum. I was talking to her about this and that, the conversation was very relaxed until she yelled "Jesus Christ!" and then burst into amazed laughter.
She could not believe that my daughter was there, she got such a shock and was so happy to see her! It was great that I was on the phone for this as I got to share in the surprise. Hopefully someone was secretly filming it or at least got photos of her face at the time!
Have you ever surprised anybody like this, or been surprised?4 people like this
10 responses
@changjiangzhibin89 (16756)
• China
21 Apr 11
I feel as if I were personally on the scene and shared the joys.I am a person that have had the experience so I deeply know that grandparents even more love their grandchildren than their son or daughter,much more she hasn't seen much of her granddaughter.I can well imagine that how pleasantly surprised she was at that time.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Apr 11
I did a Skype call with both of them last night as my daughter is at my mothers house still. My mum said it was such a shock, lots of things were racing through her mind and she was looking around for me as she tried to figure out how my daughter got there! 
She is really enjoying having my daughter there and so are her young cousins who she has been having lots of fun playing with. 
She is really enjoying having my daughter there and so are her young cousins who she has been having lots of fun playing with. 
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
21 Apr 11
This is such a lovely thing! You made me so happy bill! This reminded me of my grandma who was a sweetheart and I can exactly relate to the happiness. every time we used to meet her she would have the same glitters in her eyes telling us that life is so beautiful.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
21 Apr 11
What is it about grandmothers that makes them so loving? 
Well most of them are anyway. Except for my wife's one. She was an evil old thing!
Well most of them are anyway. Except for my wife's one. She was an evil old thing! 
@abbey19 (3106)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
Glad your daughter made it down there without a hitch Bill, you must feel relieved now!
Wow - what a surprise for your mother to see her granddaughter right there in front of her - and a bonus for you being on the phone to hear it all! Did someone take some pictures or video it? It would have been awesome for everyone.
This year I am going to surprise my mother who lives in England because we are flying over this September. She is 91, and I haven't seen her for 8 years. My brothers know I'm coming, but we decided not to tell mum and give her the shock of her life when I walk in! (hope not too much of a shock though!)
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
Yeah, geez, that could be too much for a woman of that age to take! It is great that you are going over to see her when you have not seen her for so long. At that age, you never know how much longer they will be around. That is an awesome achievement to reach 91!
I don't think anyone filmed it but I did ask my sister if she could somehow film it for me the last time that I spoke with her. My daughter forgot to take her camera to the hotel. She must have been to excited about it!
I don't think anyone filmed it but I did ask my sister if she could somehow film it for me the last time that I spoke with her. My daughter forgot to take her camera to the hotel. She must have been to excited about it! 
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
20 Apr 11
That sounds so great! What a bonus being on the phone at the time, glad it all went according to plan! I have not been surprised like that; the only time I recall surprising someone else was many years ago when my ex brother in law and I organized a birthday party for my ex-husband. We pulled it off and he was certainly very shocked when everybody jumped out yelling “Surprise!”
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
I have been to a few surprise birthday parties Paula. There is so much work that goes into the planning of them, but they are awesome when they are pulled off!
On my recent birthday we were out for lunch and I went to the toilet. When I returned to my seat, my wife had a grin on her face. I said "what?" and the next thing I knew a piece of chocolate was being brought over to me by the cafe owner and her staff. They were singing happy birthday to me and even the other guests at the cafe joined in! Highly embarrassing but awesome at the same time1
On my recent birthday we were out for lunch and I went to the toilet. When I returned to my seat, my wife had a grin on her face. I said "what?" and the next thing I knew a piece of chocolate was being brought over to me by the cafe owner and her staff. They were singing happy birthday to me and even the other guests at the cafe joined in! Highly embarrassing but awesome at the same time1 1 person likes this
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
20 Apr 11
hi bill,
what a pleasant surprise. i wouldnt trade it for the world if i want to see someone and suddenly she turns right there in front of me.
what a lovely reunion.
ann
what a lovely reunion.
ann@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
Hi Ann, yes it was a lovely surprise for her. I am not sure what my dad thought of it as sudden changes to his routine might upset him as he likes to plan for everything, but I am sure that he would be happy to see her too.
@GardenGerty (160612)
• United States
20 Apr 11
I have never planned and surprised someone. My first husband did surprise me when we were dating once. It is an awesome thing to do. I am with you, hoping someone got pictures.It is so nice that you were on the phone while it happened.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
I have been to a few surprise birthday parties, but I have never planned any or been the recipient before either. This was the first time that I have been involved in anything like this and it was fun to do. Trying not to give it away over the last few months while talking on the phone to my mum was hard.
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
20 Apr 11
When my dad turned 75 I had a surprise birthday party for him....my daughter was living in Hawaii at the time...and she flew home for it. We hid her behind a bunch of people and after we all yelled surprise....we parted and she walked out...my dad cried! He hadn't gotten to see her for about five years! It was so cool!
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
Wow that would have been so amazing. It is cool to see the joy on peoples faces when they get a surprise like that. I bet the party was pretty special for him after that.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
20 Apr 11
hi rawbill I am so glad thatg your daughters trip is going so well and she sounds so mature for her age too. I can well imagine how excited y\y
your mum was to see her granddaughter. this is being a very delightful trip all the way around. I am remembering a suprise birthday party for me that was a surprise for all concerned in that on the day of the surprise i was sick with a sour throat bu t my husband insisted we had to go for a drive so we ended up at this restaurant I had always wanted to try because I had heard such good reports about it.So I just thought he was taking me out for my birthday but when we gotg in there my mom and mysister were there an our two little ones, and a huge German Chocolate birthday cake. and in all the surprising I forgot my throat was sore. then when we got ready to leave the waitress brought another very fancy dessert for all of us and also told us a gentleman had seen I was having a birthday party and he insisted on paying for it.so we owed notheing the dessert was chocolate and coconut and whipped cream with pineapple andit was so good.I never did forget thatl I aske d who the man was who paid for all our food, and she said he was very wealthy and he owned the restaurant.the food was allso delicious.and i had my fill of shrimp scampi too. a great day all around.
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
Hi Hatley. That sounds like you had a great time there at the restaurant. How nice was that man to pay for it all. That is so incredibly giving!
It is amazing how when we are not feeling well, how something like that can perk us up and make us forget the pain. The mind is a wonderful thing. We should be able to turn off pain and sickness that easily all the time if we can control our minds properly.
I had a little surprise while out for my birthday lunch last month. We were at a cafe which is owned by friends when they suddenly brought out a chocolate cake singing happy birthday to me. Everyone else around started singing as well and all eyes in the place were on me! Embarrassing, but very pleasing! 
It is amazing how when we are not feeling well, how something like that can perk us up and make us forget the pain. The mind is a wonderful thing. We should be able to turn off pain and sickness that easily all the time if we can control our minds properly.
I had a little surprise while out for my birthday lunch last month. We were at a cafe which is owned by friends when they suddenly brought out a chocolate cake singing happy birthday to me. Everyone else around started singing as well and all eyes in the place were on me! Embarrassing, but very pleasing! 
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
20 Apr 11
That's the way to do it.
Good to hear her trip is going well. Keep us posted! Serendipity, I think it's called. Have you seen the photos yet? I reckon your daughter would have got some good shots in. Hope the good weather holds up for her.
Good to hear her trip is going well. Keep us posted! Serendipity, I think it's called. Have you seen the photos yet? I reckon your daughter would have got some good shots in. Hope the good weather holds up for her. @RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
20 Apr 11
She actually did not have her camera with her, so hopefully my sister was on the ball! Has the weather been good down there? Been lots of rain here the last few days!
