The “Practically Perfect” Birthday Weekend: Day 2 – SURPRISE!!

On Saturday Morning Michelle and I decided to walk to the Metropolitan Museum of Fine Arts. I had not been there since…well let’s say it has been a generation or two.

We saw Deb and Linda at the hotel restaurant just getting started on breakfast and made plans to meet them at the museum. I’d say it was a two mile walk to the museum. Luckily we are runners so the walk was refreshing and easy. Already I figured since arriving in NYC we have logged about four miles from our walks around the city.

When we got to the museum we found Linda waiting outside but no Deb. At the last minute Deb needed to take care of some things and stayed behind.

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There is never enough time to spend at a museum and for many people sensory overload comes in various stages.

We were able to squeeze in time to see Egyptian exhibits (mummy this and mummy that) and some impressive armor and swords exhibits…and fine paintings…and temples and unbelievable sculptures and stained glass windows and on and on and”¦we soon ran out of time.

I was most impressed with the temple of Dandur…taken apart piece by piece and reassembled in the museum.

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While in the museum I received a birthday call”¦.not just any birthday call but a long distance call”¦from Japan”¦from my dear friend Masayo Kano”¦.”Happy birthday Scopa-San!” I heard from the thousands of miles away on the other side of the world.

We had a nice chat and talked about running a bit and, realizing that it was probably close to Midnight in Japan, I made sure we did not chat too long. What a great treat to get that phone call.

Linda, Michelle, and I headed back to the Hotel and met Deb, Steve, and Vickie and once we all found each other, we headed off to Sardi’s.

When we walked into the foyer it happened again”¦another surprise!

MagicMeets Founder Fred Block and his wife Renee were there with big smiles and saying, “Happy Birthday Mike!”

Holy Moley”¦.I never expected this”¦Michelle had said she had made reservations for six, not eight.

“Fancy meeting you here!” said Fred….before bursting out with that incredible laugh of his.

Wow”¦it was great to see Fred and Renee.

Michelle went to check on the reservations while I chatted with the two of them

She then came back and led us to the back of the restaurant”¦.to a long table”¦where Deb and Linda and Steve were sitting”¦and then I completely fell apart because also at the table were my co-horts at WDWTODAY Len Testa, he of the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and Mike Newell, of course from MouseWorldRadio. and Mike’s wife Mary Newell, and, holy cow, Annette Owens and Beci Mahnken of MEI /MouseFan Travel.

It was a stunning sight. I completely fell apart”¦was lucky that I did not completely melt down into a sobbing heap of whatever.

All these people had taken time out of their busy schedules to come to New York City to surprise me.

First Linda and Deb from Maryland, then Steve and Vickie from Florida, then Fred and Renee, Mike and Mary, somewhat local but still needing to travel to get there, then Len and Annette, both from North Carolina.

And then there’s Beci who had been on the east coast last week and turned around and flew all the way back from Seattle to be there.

Apparently they had been in NY for a while but were “hiding out” to surprise me. Of course if I had gone to Times Square maybe I would have bumped into them.

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Like I said, I was a sobbing heap.

It was so humbling”¦what a surprise.

I found out later that all this was put together through the efforts of Michelle, Beci, and a special helping hand from Renee Block.

Thanks guys.

Well, after the tears subsided I sat down to have a wonderful meal with my friends and loved seeing them smile and laugh.

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Mid-way through the meal Beci had an announcement to make and asked for everyone’s attention. She then made a little speech and asked me to close my eyes for another surprise.

She put something in my hands and then asked me to open my eyes.
This is what I was holding.

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Complete silence from me…again.

Beci had secured a special block of seats for that night’s performance of Mary Poppins and I was Beci’s guest as this was another birthday surprise from whom I’ve referred to lately as my “li’l sister.”

You guessed it”¦I was overwhelmed by this amazing magical woman who I have seen make so many people so happy. When someone coins the phrase “giving back” they need to use Beci and MouseFan Travel as a prime example. Beci wrote the book on “making the impossible come true” and personifies what generosity is all about. We can all learn so much from this dear friend of mine.

Hoo boy the Weight Watchers people would cringe at the exquisite, rich chocolate cake that served as my birthday dessert and would cringe again as our waiter twisted my arm to have a second piece.

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There was going to be about a five-hour gap between lunch and the show so we tossed around ideas as to how to fill in the next few hours.

Fred Block’s idea of a visit to Madame Tussaud’s Wax music won the nod and, after a group shot outside the restaurant…

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…the majority of us went off to look at wax while the rest relaxed at the hotel until the show.

Visiting the museum with friends was an absolute riot. The figures are arranged such so you can pose with them.

Some of the figures were dead on”¦Spielberg, Colin Powell come to mind”¦but then there was Elvis and a few others”¦kind of missed the mark.

Here’s Beci and Annette with a certain popular leading man.

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The interesting part of the tour involved a “Chamber of Horrors” kind of area and we were admonished about the left side being very scary and the right side not being very scary. We were told not to go in the scary portion if we had a heart condition, was easily prone to fainting or seizures.

This Halloween fan was chomping at the bit to go in and led the group, but was sorely disappointed. Sure it was dark in there but I have been more frightened looking at gas prices lately than I was here.

We all did manage to get a group shot while at the museum. Can you tell which two figures in this photo are waxy?

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We left the museum and went to Beci’s hotel to meet up with the rest of the gang and Beci presented me with another surprise”¦.this…

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If you look at the Mary Poppins book earlier shown in this blog you’ll see the connection. Pretty cool erh? I mean Beci…the umbrella is cool too.

We had amazing seats. Stage right and about three rows back from the stage. The show was outstanding. The performers that evening were extremely talented and made you feel that they were giving the performance of their lives for you. Every performer was topnotch, and every song was performed as if it were vying for best performance of the night.

I don’t want to spoil the ending of the show for anyone intending to go but I can tell you that there is NO DOUBT that Beci pulled some strings to have us sit in just the right location to get the full effect of the show….or I should say the ending.

The show ends”¦standing ovation”¦you know how that goes.

Beci told us to remain in our seats and out of nowhere a very important person, Brian, showed up to ask us how we enjoyed the show and said that they had a treat for us.

The treat was a visit backstage to get a bit of a tour and presentation on how the show is put together.

Yes were were all pretty excited”¦definitely more Mahnken Magic.

Well it was pretty cool. We met Mark, who I believe was a Stage Manager, and he presented me with this…

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…an autographed poster of the show. Nice. Surprise after surprise after surprise.

We got to see the sets, got to ask questions, got to take pictures…it was quite an experience.

Here are a few pictures…

…here’s Julie Andrews’ signature on the stage wings…

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…some props…

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…everyone backstage…

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…Beci and yours truly showing off the poster…

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…the birthday boy, Michelle, and Deb taking it all in.

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We spent about an hour backstage and learned so much. We thanked Beci and Mark and went we were led out the side entrance we ran into Leah Kelly who plays Mary Poppins.

I know what you’re going to ask.

Does this answer your question?

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I also met Mark Ledbetter who played Bert that night too.

It was real late and we were all hungry but could not find a place to eat. Fred and Renee Block had to leave and so we said our goodbyes and I added my humble thanks to them wished them a safe trip home.

We ended up going to Beci’s hotel and closing down the restaurant.
Wow”¦what night..I ended up hitting the pillow at around 1:30 A.M.

I’ll never forget that night.

Next: A Skyscraper Sunday

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4 Replies to “The “Practically Perfect” Birthday Weekend: Day 2 – SURPRISE!!”

  1. What an awesome surprise birthday. I’ve got tears in my eyes just reading about it. What a group of friends for a great person!!!

  2. Awww What a great suprise. I saw Mary Poppins and didnt expect the end, it was one of the best shows I’ve seen. Glad you had a great birthday in the Big Apple!!

  3. Mike: You are truly blessed to have so many good friends. What a wonderful surprize. My husband and I were just in NYC in May. We didn’t see Mary Poppins but saw Wicked, Lend Me a Tenor and Addams Family. NYC is such fun! Happy Belated Birthday!