Better Surprise

D1 surprised us again, but this one was much better than the crash of 3 weeks ago. She called Wifey and told her she and her boyfriend Thomas were hitching a ride with D1's friend Rachel, and could we pick them up in Plantation?

So off I went, to a really nice neighborhood off Broward Boulevard just East of Naples, it seemed, to await her arrival. I was greeted by Rachel's mom Ilene, who, despite growing up in North Miami Beach (or maybe because of it, has a perfect Fran Drescher-like Queens accent. Ilene is lovely, and gracious, inviting us all for dinner, but we wanted to get going.

The SUV arrived, and out popped a bubbly D1, Thomas, Rachel, and Rachel's brother David, a FSU freshman, along with 2 small dogs. The 2 small college dogs were greeted by the two older, much larger non-college dogs, and all 4 started merrily greeting each other.

Rachel's father drove up, and Ron, an affable Gator CPA, looked at me and smiled --our precious cargo had made it safely.

If there's a more joyful scene than 4 happy college kids coming home, I don't know what it is.

I took D1 and Thomas home, with a detour to Flanagan's for some takeout burgers and salads, and we came back to Villa Wifey. D2 came home from a friend's and playfully teased Thomas, as she is wont to do. She pointed out that Thomas is rather metro, since he notices fashion and hair details many young men might miss. D2 was more blunt: "Of course you'd notice her hair part (in an old photo_ --Flamer!"

We made up the guest room for Thomas, and he eagerly looked forward to a few days of R and R after a tough stretch of classes.

D1 was beaming! Her hand is coming along, as is her injured back. Her puppy was adorable as ever --playfully provoking OUR 2 older, non college dogs.

As I write --D2 is off for a truncated school day --2 early tests and then ""Senior Cut Out Day Part 1." I remember in my senior year, following a long teachers' strike, we made it up to Part 18.

The rest of the house is sleeping. I'm taking the day off to squire Thomas and D1 around town. We may take the puppy to South Pointe Park on South Beach, and then to Joe's Takeaway for some early season stone crabs.

Yes, this time, thankfully, the surprise was a positive one.