Well, well

We though it couldn't be done. But it was.
My wife actually managed to surprise me for my birthday — we won't say which one (birthday, not wife).
I have to admit that I thought something might be up as I was getting ready to go out to dinner at one of our favorite places, but let it go.
It turned out that the reservations were for four, which was pretty much a dead giveaway that she had invited someone else, but she wouldn't tell me who.
When said guests were already twenty minutes late I started to suspect that it might be someone related to me (that is genetic, though I've tried my best to overcome it in my lifetime).
And I have to admit that I was genuinely surprised when my father & his brother came through the door; a good surprise since Dad lives 3000 miles away. Now, my uncle only lives forty miles away, but Dad did need a place to stay while he's in town, so that makes sense.

I felt a little sorry for the waiter, a senior at Virginia Tech. Between my father & his brother & the way they carry on, I thought they'd cause the poor guy to have an aneurism, or worse. When my uncle — who will gladly tell anyone about how he put himself through college waiting tables — ordered a martini, and said,"... and no olive; if it gets near olive, I'll kill you", said waiter chuckled nervously and sped off to get drinks — probably stopping for one himself.
He returned, & when the martini was just about five inches above the table, he, my uncle, and myself all saw the evil green orb on a stick in the glass!
My uncle, who is a fairly burly guy for his age, practically roared,"What the hell is that?", and sent the waiter scurrying again for a fresh martini.

He certainly earned his tip, though, and when the kitchen ran out of raspberry sauce for two of the desserts that we ordered, he had them taken off the bill. A safe precaution on his part, to be sure, to ensure that he would live to see his graduation this spring.

Thanks, sweet; I love you!