For my hubby's 40th birthday a few years ago I decided to try to pull off a big surprise overnight trip. I wanted to do something 'big' and wanted to surprise him. For my hubby though, a surprise party would have been out of the question...it would not have been something he enjoyed. He doesn't like large social functions and isn't much on parties...so I decided to cater more to the things he liked...travel and fine dining...quiet and low key.
I started by enlisting the help of his boss (a word of warning...not all bosses would give a flip about you trying to make your spouse feel special and appreciated...some also wouldn't appreciate you contacting them, or making a time off request for one of their employees...so if you don't know if his boss would be likely to help you out you're best to err on the side of caution and skip that part of a plan). Anyway, I emailed his boss and let him know that I was planning a surprise for my hubby's birthday and wanted to take him away for the night without spoiling the surprise by having him request the following day off work so I was making the request for my husband and asking him to help me keep my secret. His boss eagerly agreed...and I think kind of enjoyed being a part of the plot. So detail one down...I could take him away for a romantic night in another city without having to get up and the crack of dawn to get him back to work the following morning. Next I considered the reasonably drivable locations from our hometown that would be of interest. I remembered that I had seen a location of my hubby's favorite resturant (Ruth's Chris Steakhouse) somewhere in Nashville (which is less than two hours away from us). So doing a little internet research, I found that it was located in the basement of a pretty nice hotel not far from downtown. Perfect I thought...I could make a reservation at the hotel and not have to worry about driving around much...the more I looked into the hotel the more perfect I realized it was...despite being a 'higher end' type hotel, not only did they allow pets but they actually catered to them...so we could even take hubby's 4 legged baby with us.
During the week I had, little by little taken things from my hubby's closet and packed a suitcase that was in my trunk. I went to the drugstore and bought travel sizes of things he'd miss if I'd tried to pack them...like his deodorant and toothbrush, etc. I got a small pill bottle and counted out just enough for the 1 night of his prescription medication, put dog food and treats in ziplock bags and bought the dog a new bed (since his was worn and needed replacement anyway). So that when I arrived home from work (he gets home first every day) that evening he had no clue the car was packed...all I'd told him was that we were going to dinner (I just left out the part about doing it in another state!) for his birthday. I do have to say he was a little confused when I told him the dog could go too...but he just went along. We were nearly out of the state before I let him in on any part of the plans. He was speechless...and I think had a really great time.
Another time when he was travelling without me, I knew he wasn't planning to rent a car at the airport and simply take a taxi to his hotel when he arrived. He was flying to a destination we'd been together before and I knew first hand that it was a tiring flight and that there were usually lines for taxis at the airport there meaning sometimes an hour wait after you arrive and get your bags before you reach your hotel and can begin to unwind. So I contacted a limo service and paid them by way of faxing them an authorization to charge their services to my credit card and had them waiting with a sign with his name on it at the baggage carousel. Just as a safeguard for him not missing them, I did tell his travel partner (who was also going to be benefitting from the ride so I knew he'd be a willing participant) about my surprise and asked him to make sure my hubby didn't miss his ride. I got a really entertaining account of my hubbys surprised reaction from him later. On that same trip, I'd Fed Ex'd a package to the hotel for him at arrival with a list of reasons that I loved him and a letter wishing him a fun guy's weekend telling him that I knew how much he needed a break and how thankful I was that he was able to go. I think that the fact that I not only was willing to let him go away for a couple days with his friends but that I was genuinely supportive of it meant a lot to him.
Well, that's about it for tonight...I will share some more ideas another time.
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