Ana had a birthday recently...July 5 to be exact. Due to some unforeseen events and as much as the Focus staff tried, we were unable to get together with her on her birthday or even within a few days of the occasion. So we decided to celebrate it at La Tasca during the July program. We thought it would be fun with everyone being there.
And, to tell the truth, it actually worked out better for us. Marie and I had decided we wanted to go in together and get her some hearts that she had seen at Marie and Ray's house. She liked them very much, but we had trouble getting up to Tlaquepaque to get them. Therefore, since we were taking the group to Guadalajara on Sunday, July 15, we decided to get them at that time. Knowing that it was going to be difficult hiding such big items on the bus, I told Ana that Marie wanted me to pick up some more hearts for her. The tree they were hanging in was so big, the three hearts she had there were lost! Well, that was the plan anyway.
Marie told me how to find the store in Tlaquepaque (right across from Sergio Bustamante), and since I had my 'story' all set, I told Ana about needing to buy them while we were there. She even pointed out the store to me before we went to eat at El Adobe.
After eating, I went to the store, and lo and behold, there were the hearts that I needed sitting on the counter. I said to Bill, 'these are what I'm supposed to be getting." The owner overheard me and said, 'yes, we have been waiting for you." I said, "Excuse me?" She said she had been told I would be coming to pick up the hearts. I then said, "oh...Marie called and ordered them in advance?" She said, 'yes, Marie called!" I thought that was pretty cool and it made my job a whole lot easier! I silently thanked Marie for her foresight!
I paid for the hearts, and we got them on the bus...everything was fine and dandy...a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. I got home and called Marie and thanked her for ordering the hearts for me. There was dead silence on the other end of the line...she had no idea what I was talking about, which perplexed us and then got us both tickled thinking about the poor person who came to the store expecting to pick up her hearts! Oh well...
We had such an exciting time setting the surprise party up...when I think I used to handle big conventions and events,, I didn't know why I was getting so stressed about making sure things went smoothly for Ana's birthday. We ordered a cake from La Tasca, and Ray was going to ask Roberto Cerda to sing the Happy Birthday song to Ana that night....
Click here to read the entire story and see pictures of Ana's birthday party.
