Writer’s Workshop: I’m Easy to Fool
by Jenners • 03/04/2010 • Life, Writers Workshop • 29 Comments
Time for Writer’s Workshop again!This week I’m choosing Prompt 5: Who blind-sided you? Write about a time someone caught you totally off guard. (writingfix.com).
First of all, you should know that I am extremely easy to fool. Gullible is my middle name. (And if you believe that, you’re even worse than me.) I’m trusting and guileless and sometimes just plain dumb. To illustrate these points, allow me to tell you how my mother-in-law and Mr. Jenners managed to blindside me not once but two times!
The first time was when Mr. Jenners and I were engaged, and my mother-in-law took it upon herself to plan a bridal shower for me. (My own family lived far away and weren’t in a position to do it. It just never occurred to me that my sweet mother-in-law-to-be would consider throwing me a bridal shower. After all, I was “damaged goods,” having been married previously). I was told that we were going to a surprise anniversary party for Mr. Jenners’s aunt and uncle, which was to be held at his parent’s house. When we walked in the door, everyone yelled “Surprise!” Not even considering it was a surprise for me, I said “Oh … that’s good. They’re going to be really surprised when they arrive. Good job, guys!”
I was confused when everyone started laughing. My mother-in-law pointed out the decorations, the pile of gifts, the living room filled with the female relatives of the family, including some of my own friends. Finally, I understood that I had been fooled and that this was a bridal shower for me. Everyone got such a kick out of my reaction that they talked about it (seemingly) non-stop for the entire shower.
Flash forward a few years later…
I’m pregnant with the Little One, and I’m just waiting for some cockamamie story about a “party” we have to attend. I’m on the lookout this time. No way I’m going to be fooled twice. I’m fully prepared for and expecting a baby shower. I’m so obnoxious about it that finally everyone just says “Enough already. You got us. It is on this date.”
I’m a bit smug on the way up to my in-law’s house. I’ve been living with the jokes about the bridal shower for three years now. I’m ready to show how smart I am. We arrive at the house. They aren’t even hiding it this time; there are balloons with storks attached to the mailbox.
I make my grand entrance and say to the whole room (which is filled with the same people who attended the bridal shower): “Well, you didn’t get me this time!!!!! I figured it out, and you couldn’t surprise me!”
I grin at everyone sitting in the living room. They all start laughing and laughing.
I’m confused. “Why are they laughing like they pulled another one over on me?” I wonder. “Is this NOT actually my baby shower?”
It is then that I hear a distinctive laugh that is unlike anyone else’s laugh in the world. It is my mother’s laugh. But how could that be possible? My mother is out in Montana … or is she?
In fact, she is in the living room, along with my grandmother. I’ve been looking at her but without seeing her for a good minute or so. She has flown in to surprise me for the baby shower (and just two months before her “official” scheduled visit for when the baby arrives). I’m in shock … I had NO IDEA she was coming. (This is how I justify the fact that I didn’t notice my own mother or grandmother in the room. I would make a terrible witness for a crime. Please don’t get murdered with me around!! I’d never be able to help out the police.)
I gape at Mr. Jenners. “Did you know about this?” I say. “Of course,” he gloats. “We’ve all been planning it for weeks. Why do you think I worked so hard to get the guest room done this past week? And you were so proud of yourself that you’d figured out the shower date, but we GOT YOU AGAIN!”
Needless to say, everyone had a great time at my expense. And I’ve given up trying to figure things out. I figure that ignorance is bliss. Why not just go with the flow?
Ready to buy some swamp land in Jersey,
Great stories. And what a wonderful, caring family you have. These things come in threes, you know…
Great stories. And what a wonderful, caring family you have. These things come in threes, you know…
LOL! I'm pretty gullible too though so you're in good company. Sounds like you have wonderful inlaws!
what happy surprises!
Ha – great stories!! I imagine you were so excited to see your mom.
And I love that, even after you arrived at the bridal shower, you still thought the surprise was for someone else!!
That's a great story! Well written too.
These are perfect, and do you know that I can actually envision the whole thing with voices and all…see what the blogoshpere can do for us..or maybe its just your fantastic way of conveying a story..I always look forward to whatever you have to say…great memories..!
Oh that's funny!
I hate surprises SO MUCH, so this post made me cringe! I just can't take not knowing what's going on! (Which makes life much more difficult than it probably should be, hmm.) But I think you're right, because swamp land in Jersey… wait… swampland in Jersey?
Great story! And I love that they laughed at you for three years. Ah, the beauty of family…
aw. your family sounds awesome.
aw. your family sounds awesome.
Wow!
What a great family you have.
The one surprise party I was given totally shocked me too.
Those are great stories! I love how you didn't notice your mom and grandmother at first. Sounds like me. I threatened my husband that he had to tell me about the showers. I wanted to be prepared and wear the right thing. I'm always nervous around his family. When I was younger, I felt like they were always evaluating me. Now I really don't care too much what they think! So I learned how to be good at acting surprised. Probably a lot of overacting.
That is pretty funny, but hey at least it was all for good surprises
Ha! I can't believe you didn't notice your mother
I actually have some land for sale…LOL
Aw, that is so sweet…on both accounts! I have to say, that in this case, ignorance IS bliss
These kind of surprises are the best!
I came to your blog from Al's and really had fun reading it. The design is brilliant- very funky and your writing oozes personality.
I'll be back
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I've never been surprised with a party. I tell myself it's because I am WAY too savvy for them to pull one over on me and they know that. I think it's really that no one cares enough to plan me a surprise party. Whatever, I plan my own parties and they are AWESOME!
What a great story and an even better ending..you must have been so surprised….visiting from mama kats xx
What great surprises! The best really.
My best one was when I tricked my dad. I flew back to the UK for his 70th party and hid out at my sister's. On the day, the whole family – minus me – got together. I phoned my dad to wish him a happy birthday and pretended I was in Sweden, when in fact I was lurking in the bushes outside his house.
I then walked into the house still talking to him and stood right in front of him. It took a few seconds for him to realize I was there in real life!
I have never once had a surprise party! I'm too nosey no one would be able to pull it off!
But just think…everyone will always remember you!!
Awww you sound like you've got great inlaws! That's so funny that they got you twice, smarty pants!
"Dressed to the Nines."
That is actually quite sweet of all of them for wanting to so something for your for your showers. You'll always remember them – and so will they!
I often find the most gullible folks are also the most genuine so I suspect you are quite genuine. Take it as a compliment.
Haha! I can see why they didn't let you live that one down for a while! I am not one for surprises, so I try to tell everyone around me not to surprise me for my birthday! I am sure that I would make a fool out of myself or burst into tears! (I do that at odd times) might not be the reaction they are looking for…
This totally made me laugh out loud!
I don't like to admit it but I am really gullible too. Jeff uses this to his advantage all the time.
I've never had a surprise party, so my gullibility quotient is untested.
My gullibility comes into play when I hear a sob story – I want to make it all better.
I've been burned a couple of times being helpful – now I'm moderately jaded (but still secretly, want to help).
I had a similar experience when i was going to have my son. My friends told me we were going to some spa party and it was a baby shower. The funny part is I put up such a fight about my MIL visiting that weekend that she ended up not coming up and here she was really coming for the shower. I kind of felt bad about that but I didn't want her visiting the same time my sister was there from NC…of course I didn't know they were all in cohorts.