This past Wednesday, my daughters, my husband, my dear friend, Crystal, and a huge group of other dear friends surprised so much, that I haven’t been able to find the words to express my gratitude, until now…   At least I’m hoping I’ll find the right ones now…

A surprise stop at Hardesty Park…  Why would Kylia take me there?  She said she wanted to show me the “new swings”????  “Why?” I wondered.  As we passed the first entrance, I saw that the park seemed to have a crowd of people, all wearing white and milling about.  Kylia pulled in the second driveway…  Then I saw a man with a video camera pointed directly at our car.  He looked so familiar.  It was Mark, Crystal’s husband.  He was smiling a very big smile.  Hmmmmmm.

Seeing Crystal.  She came walking toward us from the park pavilion  and hugged me, as my tears began running down my cheeks.  I had no idea what was happening, but I knew it was no coincidence that we had stopped at Hardesty Park, and “happened” to run into Crystal and Mark… with his video camera…. Then Crystal took my hand and said, “Come with me!”

Looking around as Crystal led me to a red lawn chair, and asked me to take a seat.  I had already spotted my husband, Dave.  What was he doing there and why did he have his video camera?  I wasn’t able to process the information I was taking in.  It felt like a dream.

Seeing a peaceful army of the “angels in white.”   Why were they here?  Why were they forming a group directly in front of me?  I couldn’t imagine what was going to happen.  Then I began to look more closely at the angels’ faces.  Many of them were people I knew.  But there were, also, many that I didn’t know.

The next minute or two is a bit of blur…  I do remember hearing the music beginning to play a familiar tune, then the lovely voice of Carole King, sweetly singing “You’ve got a friend.”  I smiled, but the tears were flowing.

Watching the graceful beauty of the dance and and hearing all the angels singing.  As I looked across the rows of people, first crouching, then rising, and all of them singing along with Carole King.  So many familiar faces from:  northeast Ohio homeschool families; families that I had spent so much fun time with as a sitter; Jimmy’s Café; the Cleveland Metroparks; the Good List Daily and the We Love Gratitude sites; CVS; my church; the Polar Express; my high school, not to mention those dear caring people who didn’t know me, but wanted to be there because they knew someone who knew me.  Singing to me!  Dancing for me!  Smiling at me!  Unbelievable!

Time flying by so quickly.  The song ended, and the dancers formed a line to greet me, led by Crystal.  Each person gave me a hug, a flower and a beaded necklace,  and each one told me they loved me or shared their reason for being there, or how I had touched their lives.  Two young daughters of a dear friend of mine approached with their flowers and necklaces.  They stretched their arms out to hug me.  Each of them was wearing a sign which read, “Representing Demetrius.”  So precious!  With each flower, each hug, each necklace, I felt my love and joy grow!

Loving my daughters, Kylia and Kari, so much for helping to plan this amazing surprise, and for participating in the dance, and for sharing their love with me!  I was so proud of both of them.

Seeing my dear husband, Dave, near the end of the line.  It was a powerful and emotional moment for both of us.  He is so happy when things like this happen for me, and I am so glad that he was there to share it with me.

Not wanting it to end.   After the last person had hugged me, Crystal announced that it was time for everyone to say “Good-bye” to me and head for home.  Already?  Waving good-bye to all my friends, old and new, little ones and teens.

Pointing at a man sitting at a picnic table behind me, and calling him, Tim.  He said, “I’m not Tim.”  He was far enough away that I hadn’t seen him clearly, so I walked over to him, and he said his name was Bob and that he had spent a lot of time at Jimmy’s Café where Kylia had worked.  I immediately knew who he was, and surprised him by saying his last name before he did.  I learned later that Bob had been at that picnic throughout the song, and doing all the motions from his seat.  He’s not able to be up and about for any length of time, but it didn’t deter him from participating.   I’m so thrilled that Bob was there, and so grateful that the flash mob gave Kylia an opportunity to reconnect with one of her favorite people.

Looking at the basket heaped with colorful silk flowers, each with a tag identifying the giver, many with added words of love and support…  overcome with emotion.

Meeting the famed Jewel Cardwell, from the Akron Beacon Journal.  I couldn’t believe she was there.   For me?  Amazing!

Arriving home, after an eventful day, and collapsing into my favorite chair.  Looking at Facebook and seeing my picture everywhere.  Notifications telling me who “liked” my posts and photos, and who left comments and who shared posts about me.  So much to read, all of it wonderful, but overwhelming.  I barely looked at my computer the rest of the day to give myself a chance to recover from all of the excitement.

Discovering the next morning, that things were growing bigger, rather than smaller.  The first thing I saw on Facebook was that the flash mob was front page news on the Beacon Journal…  Oh my….  I was stunned!

Receiving a phone call from Crystal to see if I was OK.  She knew it was a lot to take in, and talking with her helped me immensely!  Thank you, Crystal!

Seeing the video for the first time.  It was just like reliving that unbelievable day.  Wow!

Thank you to everyone who planned, participated or wished they could attend and participate, Jewel Cardwell and the Akron Beacon Journal, the photographers, the videographers, the poster creators and signers and all those who have called or written or emailed to say they loved the flash mob, or the video or the article in the BJ or me!  In deepest gratitude for each and every second of joy and love YOU have brought into my life.  I am so honored and humbled!