Last week was Girl's birthday.
Over the past year, she has been letting us know, in subtle--and UNsubtle ways- exactly the kind of car she would like to drive after she reached 16. (In her mind, there wasn't even a question of "if" she would get a car....if Boy got a vehicle, so would she...)
Well, unbeknownst to her, in November we had arranged to buy a used Volvo from some friends who were moving to Florida. We had it hidden in a local body shop, and Alan picked it up after dark the day before her birthday.
He left early on Birthday Morning, just after Alix opened her birthday gifts. We arranged for all three of us to meet up at the local Casa des Waffles (Waffle House) for breakfast. It was early, and Alix didn't notice which cars were still at home or why her father's truck was still there.......
So we have breakfast...and Alix is realizing that no car is being produced...we said something along the lines of "when Daddy's business is on better financial footing, we'll figure it out, blah, blah, blah".... and she gets a little down looking...
We finish breakfast, and walk outside. Alan notices a silver Volvo, sort of like one she mentioned that she liked once. She says "yes, that's exactly like the one I liked." And Alan tosses her the keys and says "It's yours."
To say she levitated would not be an overstatement. She screamed. She squealed. She bounced around like Tigger on crack.
Pictures speak better than words-- so, here's the sequence.....
Still kinda down...
What?---it's dawning on her what her father is saying...
Look at that face!!
Can you see the tears?? She still doesn't quite believe it.
I think this was after landing the 17 or 18th jump up and down....
Is that a face, or what?
Later that night, boyfriend Troy accompanied the three of us to Little Tokyo, where our usual chef Songchi (aka "Peter"--but I like calling him by his real Thai name!) serenaded Alix with a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday"
I love Songchi's trout hat...
It was a good day....a really good day.
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