Happy Birthday to Me!

In honor of my birthday, I thought I’d talk about my dad and me.  Or is it my dad and I?

My dad and I have had a running competition since I was born, really, over who can one up whom on April Fool’s Day.  I suppose my dad didn’t think it was very funny when I was born in the truck in a snow storm, compelling him to deliver me himself, so ever since, he’s been trying to get back at me.

This year he did something that he’s never done before and I’ve been laughing about it since yesterday.

He sent me this really sweet birthday card.  The words on it actually made me want to cry they were so touching about what I great daughter I’ve been and what a wonderful woman I’ve grown into.  BUT, the card was empty.  My dad has never in his life sent me a birthday card without a check inside.  I looked in the envelope, I looked on the floor.  I looked in the envelope again and then checked to make sure it wasn’t in the card.  Again.  They I almost texted my sister to tell her that my dad had stiffed me, but decided that I was too old to behave that way.  Instead I called my husband at work and asked him if my dad had sent HIM money for his birthday this year.  Of course he had.  I shrugged my shoulders and wondered to myself if:

1.  My dad was getting senile

or

2.  If he stiffed me on purpose because I’ve been very undutiful lately and call way too infrequently.

It wasn’t until HOURS later that it dawned on me that he had pulled off a pretty successful April Fool’s prank.

And I’ve been laughing about it ever since.

Even though in order to pull of the prank he had to you, you know, stiff me.

Here’s a few other whoppers from years past:

My dad’s greatest prank was carried out on my 17th Birthday. There’s not a delicate way to say this so I’ll just spit it out. We had rats. Not the pet kind. The kind that live in your garage and work their way into your house and terrorize your children. My plans for the day were a surprise. Unknown to me, Jeff had planned to take me to Disneyland (yep, we started dating in high school) and not to be outdone, my dad planned a grand farewell. For when I opened the front door to leave, there were 17 dead rats (well, maybe not 17) staring me in the face eye through the screen door. Oh yes, he didn’t just string them up haphazardly by their tails, he strung them so I couldn’t miss them. I peed my pants. Almost. And then I started thinking, and I came up with a prank of my own.

The execution was simple. I just crossed the street and had my neighbor call my dad and tell him she was a school counselor and a concocted story. Linda told my dad that she was calling because I hadn’t gone to school in two months and I was failing all of my subjects (pretty shocking considering I was a good student). The hard part was listening in on the line, trying not to laugh, and counting the seconds as the silence dragged on. And it did. He was speechless. And not in a good way. I could almost see the steam coming out of his ears through the line. I got a little scared. He was not the type to freak out, but I really didn’t know what he’d do when he saw me. He assured the school counselor that he’d “take care of it”, I waited a few minutes and then walked home. He was waiting in the front yard for me, and he was so angry his face looked mottled. I did some fast talking, and the rest is history.

He got me back by having a stroke on my 30th birthday. I’m still thinking of a good retaliation.

And, it’s never too late to send that check, dad.

About Angie

Angie is a CRAFT dabbling, recipe making, WORD loving, sunshine hording, book DEVOURING, Mama to a lot! She's kind of in love with Instagram right now, so if you want her attention, go find here there. {smiling}

Comments

  1. Happy Birthday!!!

  2. Today’s my birthday too! And my moms. 🙂 Love all the pranks and that you and your dad can joke like that through all these years. Hope you have a wonderful birthday and the pranks keep coming! lol

  3. Happy birthday to you, too!

    Love your birth story! – When I was pregnant (and overdue), I went to the hospital on April 1st because my baby hadn’t moved at all for an alarming period of time. Of course, everything was just fine, but everyone had been alerted that I was in the hospital, and then told it was a false alarm. I DID go into actual labor the very next day – but I don’t have the heart to play April Fools jokes on anyone since I figure Esmé trumped us all with her prank that year.

  4. Happy birthday to you!!

    Rats?! Oh I would have peed my pants for sure!
    I lost my dad 10 yrs ago so I enjoy hearing father/daughter stories and pranks are always fun to hear about!

  5. Another Alicia. What a fun day for a birthday. lol I’m sure there have been many pranks over the years. But rats is just mean. Happy b-day girly!

  6. Oh wow! I can’t believe your dad had to deliver you in a truck, in a snowstorm! I’d love to hear the details of that story.

    I’ve just been sitting here trying to think of a good way to prank my boys when they get home from school today. I am quite sure it will not involve rats! I would have done more than pee my pants. I would have probably passed out cold!

  7. I heart your dad. Happy birthday, Angie!

  8. happy birthday…and that is SO GREAT that you and your dad have such a great relationship. I can read it in your writing how much you love and care for that man. Go You! have a great day.

  9. I think this is a great tradition.

  10. Happy birthday!
    It’s cute that you and your dad have that kind of relationship. Dead rats not so cute though.
    I try to avoid all the April Fool’s jokes that I can. I don’t like being tricked haha.

  11. Ha! I am loving that you guys prank each other but those are some serious pranks. Whatever happened to plastic wrap on the toilet seat or a rubber band around the spray nozzle at the sink?

    You know, harmless stuff. 😉

    Happy Birthday.

  12. Happy birthday!!!

    The dead rats – I definitely would have peed myself! That’s a good one!

  13. Happy Birthday!

  14. Happy Birthday!!

    What a fun tradition between you and your pops! I think it would have been even funnier if rather than not giving you any money, he would have given you one lone dollar! 😉

  15. I hope it was a prank, and not senility or maybe he’s just getting stingy in his old age? lol.

    Happy Birthday Angie, hope it’s a great day for you! Doing anything fun?

  16. OMG, GF! He’s a genius! You know that right?! Loved this and of course happy, Happy, HAPPY birthday to you!! XO

  17. How sweet to have such a fun relationship with your dad! A delightful story!

  18. Your Dad is…awesome! Thanks for all the great ideas!!

  19. Happy Birthday Girl,Hope your month is awesome!

  20. Happy birthday bloggy buddy! You and your dad have such a fun relationship. And, I know he didn’t have a stroke on purpose, and I know strokes aren’t even a little bit funny, but the way you said it made me laugh. Don’t hate me. I know your dad is ok otherwise he couldn’t stiff you on cash today. Hope it shows up tomorrow!

  21. Happy B’day to a fine lady! What a beautiful day to celebrate!

  22. Happy birthday Angie!

  23. Happy Birthday, May it be a wonderful year of new memories & joyous surprises!

    Also, I’m pretty sure Dad wins the prank department I mean topping a stroke?! Come on! He clearly beat you there 😉 (and I’m glad he fought his way back to share many more birthdays with you!)

  24. Happy late birthday! It sounds like you have a pretty awesome birthday with your dad. Now, if only he would send you that check.

  25. Hope you had a beautiful day…April Fool’s and all. I was a little behind the eight ball in getting my wishes out this year, sorry. I told the kids that April Fool’s was extended until today (Sunday) because I did not get a chance to do what I wanted to for their dinner. I actually tricked the big boys though, I laughed like a little kid, they had never heard of ” short sheeting”, now they know. Happy Birthday dear friend!!!

    P.S.–I hope you NEVER out do your dad’s stroke, funny girl, he beat you hands down on that one, a trick not to be out done.

  26. Happy Belated Birthday. Sounds like you and your dad are some pretty serious pransters. I like that he stiffed you on your birthday. That is to funny! Hope you get that check soon!

  27. I think I might faint if I saw those rats hanging there!

  28. You two are too much! So did he send a check yet?? ;P Happy belated Birthday, girl!!

  29. Wow!LOL 😀 It sounds like you and your dad have had quite your share of the FUN! 😀 Good for you both! And, happy late birthday!
    Corine 😀

  30. JoeyfromSC says

    Happy Belated Birthday!!:)

  31. Hey Angie, Remember those paper racks. Thats our birthday. Love Ya