As the 50th anniversary of Edy's arrival on this planet approached, Chris asked her a few times, “What do you want to do for your birthday?”

“Oh, surprise me,” Edy replied.

So Chris did just that. His plan was twofold:

1. Ask friends and family members to write a favorite memory, shared experience or recollection of the first time they met Edy and mail it to Chris' secret e-mail account. (The contributions were inspired, heartfelt and funny.) Chris created a separate page with each person's words and a photo of them and put all 20 or so contributions into a birthday memory book.

2. Hold a surprise birthday party on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 3 p.m. at the house – four days before Edy's actual birthday on Jan. 23. The question was: how to get Edy out of the house for a couple of hours and back here a little after 3 without getting suspicious. The solution: Have her brother Bob (temporarily unable to drive due to recent neck surgery) call her to pick him and take him shopping, then bring him back to the house in time for the party. The final touch was to tell Edy that our long-ago ordered shower door had finally arrived at OSH and our handyman was going to pick it up and install it at 3, and to suggest to her that she come back with Bob to be here for that exciting bit of home improvement.

The plan worked to perfection. All the guests arrived between 2:30 and 3, and helped get the party decorations, food and beverages ready. Like clockwork, Edy and Bob arrived at 3:15. Chris casually walked out to greet them, and as we all walked in the house, Edy noticed a few things out of place and a few presents and a bouquet of flowers on the living room coffee table. She also noticed a few other people peeking out from the kitchen.

“Surprise!” everyone exulted.

Needless to say, Edy was totally surprised and had a ball. Her only regret was that it would have lasted longer. Edy's other brother, Frank, and his wife Christina were also here, along with many of Edy's longtime friends. Even 75-year-old Phyllis “Flame Follie,” resplendent in red top hat and fishnet stockings, was on hand to regale Edy with her inimitable singing birthday greeting. We counted nearly 30 people altogether.

“The party was just wonderful and was just too short,” Edy said. “A few did stay later than the others and we sang a little and played piano and guitars.”

“The memory book was just a joy and I thank you all for your wonderful contributions.”

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