Surprise!!

No pictures -- yet -- from the surprise (to Robert, anyway) bash Friday night to celebrate his and Ben's 60ths, so I'll use a place-holder from the little slide show we put together.

I got some shots from Ben's camera, but left mine at home, wary of tipping our hand.

Ken, you see, had set up drinks at the Museum Center and dinner at Ahmed's for a few dozen friends, but the pretext was a planned dinner at his and Ben's place, preceded by a spur-of-the-moment stop at the Museum to see some table decorations. . . .

If you know Robert at all, you know it was almost impossible to delay him to the proper time -- everything but nailing his feet to the floor to keep us from leaving early so he could get some cut peonies into water and arranged for the dinner he was expecting.

But finally there he was through the revolving door -- with noisemakers and "Surprise!" written all over his face. Ben, careful soul that he is, hates the unexpected, but was game for the evening if he knew what to expect.

What none of us expected was the de facto gay pride parade marching from the Museum's back door to Ahmed's front. Hilarious time, though Ro mock-grumbled that if he'd known everybody would be there, he'd have worn some proper jewelry.

I can never thank Ken, Ben, Ahmed and the rest enough for making it happen. And for being such great co-conspirators.