Planning a surprise party is inevitably a very nerve-wracking thing to do
Late in 2021 my youngest sister Shauna returned home to Ireland for a week-long visit. She’s lived in Canada for the past six years and there’ve been times since the beginning of the pandemic when our family wondered how much time would pass before we actually saw her again. As covid numbers fluctuated and restrictions eased and tightened again, she made countless attempts to return home, searching out routes that offered hope, airlines that were optimistic. But her flights were always cancelled and we continued with the family quiz nights, promising each other we’d see her in person soon.
So when she called me one day to say she had booked flights and broached the subject of surprising the rest of the family, my excitement was two-fold. One, I’d finally get to see my sister. And two, I love giving surprises.
Years ago, I surprised my husband with a big party for friends and family on his birthday. With his parents, siblings and their spouses, we had dinner in a large restaurant in Cork, while friends and extended family gathered downstairs in the bar, waiting to surprise him. The look on his face when he saw the crowd gathered there to celebrate his birthday with him made all the pre-party stress worth it.
Planning a surprise party is inevitably a very nerve-wracking thing to do. There needs to be a ruse to get the ‘surprisee’ to the venue, and for the whole thing to be a success, there needs to be a promise from everyone invited not to spill the beans.
On my sister’s return home, there was no risk of anyone letting it slip to our extended family. All I needed was a reason to get my parents, sisters and their own families to our house on a Saturday afternoon, all at the same time.
As luck would have it, I was asked to speak at the Cork Culture Crime Writers night in Spike Island and I invited everyone to my house the following evening to celebrate my first writing event. Our plan was to have all the extended family gathered at the kitchen island with a glass of prosecco in hand, and Shauna would make her grand entrance from upstairs.
When the day arrived, Shauna’s flight was on time, the food was prepared, the prosecco chilled… so far so good. After a quick hug she headed upstairs to shower off the effects of a ten-hour journey, and I went to wait on everyone to arrive.
And wait...
There were various delays – heavy weekend traffic, a child that hadn’t yet woken from his nap – and so by the time anyone did arrive, the first bottle of prosecco was almost gone. We were too excited to relax and catch up properly, our focus fixed on watching the windows for arriving cars.
Eventually everyone arrived, one household at a time. While our other sisters were chatting in the kitchen, Shauna, who had been hiding for what felt like a very long time in the utility room, decided to call it a day on surprising the whole family together. Our carefully laid plans were forgotten as we enjoyed making up for lost time with who was there.
By the time my parents arrived, the catchup was already in full swing, with everyone gathered at the kitchen island, loudly erasing the last two years.
My sisters and I all look alike. So much so that when my parents finally walked into the kitchen, it took a few moments to realise that there was one more daughter than usual in the room.
It was a magical moment, worth all the planning and worry and nervous stress. Because to truly surprise others in such a happy way is really something special.
As for me, I’ll remain the surpriser, if I can. I’ve only had one surprise party thrown for me – I was 12 and we were moving house. My friends had decided to throw me a surprise goingaway party. There were five of us, and we had a club, of which I was the treasurer (as far as I can remember).
We read books and planned outings, and generally felt very important – I was part of something that elevated a childhood friendship to something so memorable, I wanted to stay there forever.
Unfortunately, someone outside our little group told me about the party beforehand. I knew every detail, even the ruse they had plotted to get me there.
I was gutted to be leaving them, and somehow this made it worse. Knowing the effort they were making was really touching, and it broke my heart all the more.
When the day arrived, I felt sick to the pit of my stomach – could I pull off the surprised look all their efforts deserved? I can’t remember the actual party, just the worry in the hours leading up to my ‘surprise’.
There is nothing quite like the warm satisfaction of providing an unexpected burst of happiness to those you love. And for me, the joy of surprises will always be in giving them.
Blinding Lies by Amy Cronin is published by Poolbeg and available now
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