Surprises

Thursday, March 12, 2026

We left Nancy’s and headed to Benjamin’s about 4:30. Bye, Nancy! We had a great laughing visit.

We sat on the couch with Benjamin and visited for about an hour. The couch makes you face the front door with its frosted pane. I saw a shadow approaching and announced that someone was coming. The person stopped – definitely a man – then slowly opened the door. I couldn’t even begin to guess who would be just coming into Benjamin’s house. I was flabbergasted when Alexander walked in. Whaaaa?

Alexander is going LARPing in Illinois this weekend. His regular carpool friends are not doing this weekend, so he suggested to Benjin that he come part of the way today. Benjamin surprised him with the info that we would be here too. The surprise was on. All evening I just kept looking at him (busy talking to his brother) and saying, “You’re here.”

The first night Gary and Julie were in South Carolina they ordered a pizza from Dominos. Keith and Julie went down to wait for it at 12:30am. The app showed the car on the map out for delivery. The delivery time switched later in 5 minute increments until it just stopped. The little car seemed parked. The guy either took the pizza home with him or he never had it at all. We made SO many Dominos/pizza/delivery jokes all week long.

On Monday (first day back after vacation) Julie got laid off. After 18 years of dedicated service, her position was eliminated. Talk about a kick in the head. CRAP! Tonight we put the boys in the backseat, picked up a pizza, and headed out on the half hour drive to Edgerton. We could see Gary and Julie quietly watching TV when we rang the doorbell at ten to 9. They were definitely not expecting a late-night doorbell ring. They were really surprised and happy to have a fun pizza visit. We did good cheering up! Alexander pointed out we are a family of people willing to commit to the bit. Definitely!