Shenanigan’s and Shipt

I am one of the luckiest people in this world. I have been given four wonderful friends that a person could ever asked for. Recently, at one of our mother’s funeral, I loving said, “No matter what little street rat Becky brought home, she loved us just the same.” We have been unseperateable except distance and life courses. However, each of our spouses knows that when one of us call the other, life stops, privacy is given for the duration of the phone call, no one interrupts the phone session. Yes, we mean that much to each other.

Most of the others are very predictable and have “busy” lives. Becky, well, she is the “sweet” one of the group. She is always on the move helping others. Phil is the “Fabulous” one. My Katie, she is lovingly called, the “Bitch”. I am labeled the “Diva”. I only use my diva skills when I need to. In reality, I am the most adventuresome, daring, sneaky, and hard working person. No one knows what I am up to and I certainly am one who hauls bootie for what I want in my life.

When I have a goal that involves them, I tell them that I am up to some sort of shenanigan. They all groan but they get excited because they never know what they are in for. I always need a partner in crime especially as I get older. I snag one, make plans, shop and execute my vision. I love to spoil them when ever I can.

This round of shenanigans is, complicated. One has to be flown in to the location, one will not fly, another can’t drive or more than an hour. Each one of us has our own little issue that I must take into consideration. I really don’t want to drive 866 miles, but I really want this experience with my friends.

As I mentioned previously, I needed a partner in crime. I had to include the one who will have to fly. To get Phil on the airplane would have been impossible on my own. I am sure he would not have given me the information I would need to reserve a seat. So, he is the lucky side kick. Yay Phil! Two months in and we are all set in the plans but we are not in the clear yet. We still have a few pieces of the puzzle to put in place.

This year, in the spring, I went to Harry Potter world at Universal Studio. Even though I had a great time at the theme park, not so much with my traveling partner. A travel mate can ruin a good thing. He didn’t ruin the trip but he definitely did damage to the relationship. When my four friends heard the whole story, they took pity on me, I think, but in the process, they doomed themselves to another round of my shenanigans. When Phil said, “I will go to New York with you if we can go and see the Cursed Child.” Challenge excepted and I began another round of shenanigans.

Broadway opened and I was all over the website to get tickets to the Cursed Child. After two days in the cache, I scored tickets for my friends and I to go. I wasted no time in securing a room near the theater. Then, I lured my man in:

“Remember you said you would go with me if I got tickets for the Cursed Child?”

“yeah”

I sent him a picture of the tickets and he freaked out. I told him I can handle the girls but I couldn‘t his butt there by surprise. I asked him to be my partner in crime. How could he refuse? After all, he was the one who put out the guidelines for travel in my head. That will teach him to mind his words better. [evil snicker] So, New York, here comes the street rats to geek out.

Two Ravenclaws and two Hufflepuffs will be spending two days in the big city. How to keep the trip quiet until the day they will receive their package with the announcement, Harry Potter robes, tickets to the play, tickets to the events we will be attending in the Harry Potter New York Store, and instructions inside on what they must do. I will give the package to their spouse, who have already been brought into the shenanigans, to give to them on Thanksgiving morning. I had to bring in the husbands because I am taking away their Thanksgiving day. Also, I was hoping they would save up some money for spending. So, the husbands had to be brought into the plans to thwart any plans the girls might try to make.

As I envision this, I hope to make an important facebook group chat on Thanksgiving morning. Tom and Chuck will be waiting on Kates and Becky’s end to hand over the package. Phil will have his box arrive earlier that week with instructions not to open until I tell him too. Once everyone opens their package, their instruction will be an itinerary of travel, what to pack, and most importantly, walking shoes or boots. They will have to pack quickly because I intend to be on the road by 10 am that morning. This part should go smoothly. The husbands don’t dare to displease me. I know that is bratty but I am who I am.

I must admit, I am not looking forward to the 866 plus miles drive. Due to Covid we will not be able to cut through Canada. We will have to drive through the States to get there. Oh the things you do for the people you love. Alright, this is what I do for those I love.

What is the saying? “You get what you work for.” I have a full-time job, I babysit for my grandson in the evenings, submit articles to Vocal and now I have chosen to pick up extra cash from working Shipt on my off times to fund this glorius trip. I am willing to work for the benefits of friends trip. My biggest worry, is two things: 1. Catching COVID from exposure to the public. 2. Making sure nothing else is compromised in this endeavor. I am sure that this effort will be worth while when all is said and done.

Pulling out all resources are necessary. I intend on pulling my Diva rank and fund this whole shenanigans. Shipt will give me the money to purchase robes and supply spending money for them to celebrate with me. I don’t know exactly what I am celebrating, but just being able to pull this trip off will be the biggest thing I have done for them. That alone will be worth celebrating. This group of friends deserve to be spoiled by me. They have been by my side through thick and thin.

My partner in crime and I are looking for other shenanigans to do on this trip. However, Becky can’t be pushed too hard so we are trying to keep this simple. The drive alone will be hard on her. This trip will be the first time we have ever traveled together. Forty-six years as friends, it is time we spread our wings and do something together. We have had a tough year with our families so, getting away from family stress may do all of us a world of good. I hope my plans turn out the way I envisioned the trip to go. Here’s to hoping.

At this time, I am sitting in my car in between Shipt orders typing out my stories. No time is wasted. I must work as hard as I can to make this happen. Every moment must be used for the betterment of this trip. With a ding of my phone, it is time to say good bye to you dear reader. Time to make this dream come true, one Shipt order at a time.