50 Laps Around the Sun

Hello and welcome to today’s Wannaskan Almanac. Today is June 7th and this is part 1 of a trilogy titled: “50 laps around the Sun”.  

Fifty laps around the Sun sounds like a long way and would take a lifetime to finish.  That’s about right for our dear friend Kim Hruba.  

Many readers of this Wannaskan Almanac blog have followed Kim’s stories on Saturdays and often her kids contribute too.  Through the blogs you have been part of many of the events of Kim’s life as well as her family.  The successes, trips and life lessons, you all have lived much of the Hruby's Family adventures along the way.

This time, as a treat, you get to be part of the celebration of her latest accomplishment:  A 50th Birthday Party.  

Since I don’t have much experience with these Wannaskan Almanac blogs I contacted an expert.

(Paul calling): “Ring….”  

(Paul Calling): “Ring…”

(Answer): “Hello”

(Paul): “Hello Antonin, this is Paul. Could you help me write a blog about your mom’s birthday party?”

(Antonin): “Sure…it’s simple”

Antonin has helped write many of these blogs over the past years and generously agreed to give me a hand.  He really knows his craft.  After all, he’s going to be a 5th grader this fall.

Right off the bat he thought the blog needed to be a trilogy: Preparation, Party and Afterward.  

Next Antonin recommend that the first blog should have 6 paragraphs:

1. How my wife Carol & I got the ideas for the party

2. How we got it together

3. Planning

4. The mess around texts I sent

5. Decorations

6. The Why

I took his advice and here’s part 1 of “Kim’s Birthday Party Trilogy”:  Preparation

How my wife Carol & I got the ideas for the party:

The idea started when Kim was visiting us back in March and I asked if she had any special plans for her 50th birthday celebration.  Like a wizard handing down a challenge, Kim told us the things she would want for a party.  Not all of these things were specific, some were elements or aspirations and it was up to Carol & I to interpret and be inspired.

Here’s the list:

• Wants to feel loved

• Start the day with mimosas and having breakfast served

• A pedicure at a salon

• A gold dress

How we got it together:

Carol & I like planning parties and the creative challenge.  Also our neighbors often have block parties so putting together a menu, putting out tables and chairs, and sending out invitations is part of our playbook.  

Planning:

Carol & I are plotters and planners.  Whether it’s managing a work project, planning a convention or organizing our day-to-day lives we are on it.  Web-based documents,  spreadsheets and cloud storage are our friends.  

The mess around texts I sent

Some parts of the party are a surprise so just for fun I thought I’d send Kim some vague questions to build anticipation:

-Are you afraid of heights?

-Do you get motion sickness?

-Are you allergic to horses?

-How do you spell your last name?  I’m filling our a form for the Skywriter.

Decorations

I don’t want to reveal too much ahead of time but let’s say there is a voice of creativity in everyone.  It speaks quietly, sneaks up on you when you are off-guard, appears when you are about to sleep or waking up.  A person has to learn to listen for it’s soft voice.  Carol & I came up with some good stuff and can’t say much or it will spoil the surprise..

The Why

Carol met Kim in 1997 while at the U of M and have been friends for a long time.  In fact, Kim & Rosta's oldest daughter, Tereza, was the first baby to visit Carol when she bought her house in the summer of 2003.  Since then the Hruby’s have visited many times and we see each other in Warroad, MN too.  It’s quite an experience to watch each of their kids enter the world and grow into wonderful people.  So “why” throw a party for Kim’s 50th?  It’s because we love the entire Hruby family very much!

So stay tuned dear readers to find out how Kim’s 50th Birthday Party works out.

1.