M\*A\*S\*H Surprise Party - 40 Year Old Even with guests traveling from 6 states and two young talkative children at home, we were able to keep my husband in the dark about a surprise backyard barbecue to celebrate his 40th birthday.  M\*A\*S\*H was our theme, both because it was part of the pop culture of his youth, and because he is a nurse. I created a logo for the party with M\*A\*S\*H in red stenciled letters on an army green background, and the acronym spelled out underneath Memory loss \* Aches and pains \* Sags and bulges \* Hair loss. This appeared on the save the date card and invitation, and on a large banner I made to post on the front of our house. The logo was also made into a frame for about 50 pictures from Craig's life that I enlarged and printed on a color printer, and then displayed on trees and tables in the backyard. I also made a stencil that said M\*A\*S\*H 40TH and spray painted that onto tablecloths, trash cans, and serving pieces (see below).   In keeping with the M\*A\*S\*H theme, I put a large red cross on our roof, and posted a signpost at the entrance to our driveway with signs pointing the way to the various places Craig has lived in his life, along with the mileage calculated from Seoul, South Korea to imitate the one from the TV show. One of the signs read, Craig's Youth, 1 Million Miles Away. Tables were draped in camouflage table cloths, and signs were posted at various stations Rosie's Bar at the drink station, The Mess at the food table, the Officers Club at the playhouse porch that we converted into a stage for karaoke. We blew up surgical gloves and used those as balloons, and served food, barbecue sauce and dips in bedpans, plastic urinals, specimen cups, and other hospital containers. The guests, dressed in fatigues and army green, gathered at the entrance to our cul-de-sac behind a Happy Birthday sign, and greeted Craig as he drove around the corner from a morning outing with friends (and co-conspirators) in his rented red convertible. We then feasted on barbecue, beer from a keg, frozen margaritas from a rented machine, and a birthday cake featuring a Technicolor recreation of Munch The Scream, with the distressed character standing over a birthday cake with the number 40 on it.  I had made a compilation CD for the party of songs like Mother's Little Helper (What a Drag It Is Getting Old) by the Rolling Stones, Old by Paul Simon, Old Man by Neil Young, Birthday by the Beatles, and of course, the theme from M\*A\*S\*H, Suicide is Painless. Entertainment included karaoke, home movies from Craig's childhood to the present showing throughout the party, and a game of Jeopardy, created on Powerpoint and featuring humorous trivia about Craig's life. As their prize for playing, everyone got a bookmark with a picture of Craig doing his best Frank Sinatra imitation while singing karaoke, and a humorous quote about an inside joke.  We asked that no one bring presents, but for those who insisted, I suggested a 6-pack of their favorite beer, a dish to share, or a contribution to Craig's favorite cause.  I also compiled a notebook of greetings, stories, and memories of Craig from guests and from friends who couldn't attend.  A few of the guests stayed at our house, so I rented the M\*A\*S\*H movie for post party viewing, and I invited all the out-of-town guests back to the house on Sunday morning for brunch and more visiting.  We had a great time that morning sharing stories of all the behind-the-scenes conniving that took place to keep Craig from finding out about the party. Based on the photos of Craig's face as he drove around the corner that day, I'd say the deception was worth it.