I am sure most of you have realized I can be totally unprepared, or fly by the seat of my pants, as the old saying goes, fairly well. And I can be a little late, such as wishing you Happy Valentine’s Day today, rather than yesterday. I love Valentine’s Day, and love the fact it is a day for everyone, full of kindness, all kinds of kisses and hugs, and lots of smiles. But let me assure you, when I want to, I can execute a plan with exquisite precision, and in a timely manner, like the first cut of the surgeon’s knife on flesh. Or to be a little less dramatic, just like a row of dominoes that will fall after gently tapping the first one in line, one landing on another, after another, after another. And I especially love planning something for someone I care about.

I want to tell you a story. About fifteen years ago while I was working as a hospice nurse in southern Indiana one of my dear friends, Lori, was getting ready to celebrate another birthday. It was the month of November and I had parked my car and was walking to the office. It was a Wednesday, a cloudy day, rather cold like many November days can be. In two days, the upcoming Friday, it would be Lori’s birthday, and I wanted to make her feel really special. I was thinking about this as I walked along on the sidewalk.

I noticed several gentlemen were working on the road, noisily tearing up the asphalt with their jack hammers, shovels, and bobcats. I watched them for a few seconds, thinking how hard they must work, and that surely they slept well at night from all that physical labor. I wondered how often they took breaks. Suddenly I was inspired!

I walked up to the first man sitting on his bobcat, the engine quiet. He looked a little older than myself, with his gray hair and mustache, perhaps in his late fifties.

“Hi, ” I said. “I’m Joan the Nurse. I work right across the street in the hospice offices.”

“Hi, Joan the Nurse, ” he replied, smiling and raising his hand to tilt his construction helmet further down his forehead. “I’m Bruce the Foreman. What can I do for you?”

“Well, Bruce. One of my co-workers is having a birthday this Friday. I’m wondering if you and your crew would help me sing her the Happy Birthday song Friday morning?”

He smiled even bigger.

“I’ve never had anyone ask me and my men to sing anything. We sure can. We’ll be here workin’. What time?”

“About nine in the morning. I’ll wave at you and you call your men over.”

“See you Friday, Joan the Nurse.”

Well, as you can imagine I was thrilled!

So Friday morning I walked down the same sidewalk, carrying a small plate with a chocolate cupcake and a match to light one candle, sitting on that sweet, frosted, little cake. The weather was the same, cold with gray skies. And sure enough, there was Bruce sitting on the same bobcat. I raised my hand when I got about forty feet from him, and waved at him. He grinned and waved back. Then he did the most amazing thing! Placing two fingers in his mouth he let out the loudest whistle I have ever heard. It actually made me a little jealous because I have always wanted to whistle. And everything stopped. Magic! Men laid their jackhammers down, set their shovels on the grass, and turned the engines of the other two bobcats off. There were a dozen men walking towards us, some of them tall and lanky, others shorter with broad, broad shoulders. All were looking very fit, and wearing their bright yellow safety helmets. Bruce jumped off his bobcat. His men gathered around him, he spoke to them, then they all walked over to me, surrounding me in a small circle.

I grew up with four brothers. I’m used to being around all that testosterone. But you know, for a minute it was all about me! I remember thinking, THIS is what it’s like to be part of huddle on the NFL football field during a football game. And I was the quarterback!

“OK, Joan the Nurse, tell us what you need.”

I looked at Bruce and smiled, and looked around at all the men, their eyes on me, waiting.

“My friend’s name is Lori. I want you to sing Happy Birthday to her. With me. But I want you to sing like you really mean it. Pretend she is your sister, your mom, your wife, your lover, whatever it takes to sing loud! And please throw your hard hats into the air at the end of the song! OK? And remember, her name is Lori.”

They were all smiling now, nodding their heads, already getting into the spirit of things.

“I will go into the office and have our secretary Juanita call Lori up front and tell her someone wants to see her on the porch. Then I will come back out and light the birthday candle. When she walks out the door we will start singing. Let’s go!” I had issued the final instructions and we broke our huddle and headed across the street.

All went according to my marvelous plan. Lori did step out onto the porch. All those gentlemen and myself broke out into song, me holding the cupcake with the candle lit, sparkling like a tiny star. Lori was mildly shocked, to say the least, falling back against the brick building of our office, her eyes wide with surprise.

Those men did not disappoint me. They sang with such gusto, and melody too, those baritone and bass voices singing out loud and full of happiness. We lit up that front yard that November morning, brighter than any star! At the end of the song they all threw their hard hats into the air, shouting and laughing, and catching those hats in their hands as gravity pulled them back down. I blew Lori a kiss and handed her the cupcake. I think she was still trying to comprehend what had just taken place, a dozen hard working men, strangers, singing her Happy Birthday.

I turned and shook Bruce’s hand, telling him and all those gentlemen what a wonderful job they had done, singing and throwing up their hats. Bruce looked at me and smiled.

“Anytime you’ve got another friend with a birthday Joan the Nurse, you just let us know.”

I was laughing now. I felt all lit up inside. The joy of celebrating a friend, and in such a fun and original way, and the kindness of these gentlemen. Then I heard my name being called.

“Joan!”

I looked over and my hospice boss, Susan, was standing on the sidewalk a few feet away from us. I smiled at her, told Bruce good-bye, and walked over to stand next to her.

“Good morning! That was so fun singing Happy Birthday to Lori! Did you think to pull out your phone and get a picture of all of us?”

Susan stared at me, her mouth slightly open.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. ” I mean I saw the whole thing! How did you do that? You waved your hand, and those men just walked right over to you! How did you do that?”

“Well, Susan, you know as well as I do a good nurse is never late and always prepared,” I said. “It’s all about having a plan.” I would’ve winked at her, but just like I can’t whistle, I’ve never been able to wink. Maybe that has something to do with the fact I wear gas permeable contacts. Anyway, I have other talents.

Happy Valentine’s Day, one day late! Blowing you a kiss, and sending you hugs!

c   Love, Joan