The element of surprise!

Some people are hard to please, and others are easily amused.

There are folks who don't necessarily appreciate a joke, and lighthearted folk who are thankful for an occasion to leap for joy.

Time flies for some, and drags for others.
So...

I have been known to organize a lottery pool, plan a group visit to a comedy club, and arrange random reality shows' results into a chance to be the winner of 'the collective pot of gold'. I am always amazed by the participants who have no idea that they have won. You don't have to watch the show to know what's going on. The latest example of this would be "The Cookie Lady." She is a retired teacher from my district and it was in her classroom that I first substitute taught in NY as I tried to land a teaching job. There was a rocking chair in her fifth grade classroom and it added great warmth to the room. When I was hired, I followed her interior decorating idea by bringing in a couch for the kids to sit and relax as they read books when their work was done.

Now retired, she loves to bake and has shared many a confection with us. We call her 'The Cookie Lady' as a better way for my mom to remember who she is instead of using her name.

A member of the pools, I called her when the 'Dancing with the Stars Finale' included her person among the finalists to see if was going to watch, and then she promptly lost!! I figured maybe it was the kiss of death when I called her to ask if she was aware of her possible 'boatload of bucks.' So when 'The Apprentice' finale of two candidates again included her person, I did NOT call her to draw her attention to it. And she won!! The next day, I called her to say that I had made something for her since she had shared so many cupcakes and cookies with us.

"You didn't have to do that," but she then agreed to stop by on her way home.

I placed the $100 bill in a box with a picture of a cat on the cover, and handed it to her. When she opened it up, she flew out of the chair saying that she could not accept the money for her to get a cat.

"You won last night on The Apprentice! That's your prize money!"

She threw her hands in the air and jumped up and down ...the picture of joy!

An unexpected windfall...like an unplanned snowday of freedom.

Ya gotta love watching the smiles and finding the fun in surprise gifts...whatever they may be.

For my mom, when she falls asleep in her chair in the afternoon, she sometimes wakes up to discover a cookie on the arm of the chair. It causes a reaction similar to Columbus spotting land after many days at sea.

It's a mission that it is definitely worth the time and effort.

And there you have it!!!