BMH co-worker's surprise trip turns into computer party
What started out as a sun-soaked 40th birthday weekend in Clearwater, Fla., turned into a party over the computer, thanks to an obnoxious, uninvited guest: the coronavirus.
Joyce Lesser of Butler said she and five co-workers in the Butler Memorial Hospital pharmacy planned the weekend trip as a surprise to celebrate the milestone birthday of pharmacist Lindsay Scott.
They all managed to get the same weekend off and couldn't wait to leave Western Pennsylvania behind for the sunny shores of Florida.
“We were all excited,” Lesser said. “We went to dinner and got it all planned.”
Lesser said they talked about the coronavirus during its initial spread through China but weren't worried about their beach plans.
“We never, ever thought this was going to come here,” she said.
When the pandemic began to look like it was going to go global, the Florida plans were replaced with a weekend at a rental apartment in Pittsburgh.
“We planned to do tourist things in Pittsburgh,” Lesser said. “Up until March we were saying 'Well, let's just wait and see because maybe we could still do it.'”
As the coronavirus progressed through the world, the women thought maybe they still could go to Pittsburgh and just remain at the rental together all weekend.
“We finally canceled it,” Lesser said.
Scott was told about the plans, and a cake and 40th birthday-themed cookies were enjoyed by the entire pharmacy department at the hospital.
Scott was told she could not open her presents until her birthday, April 16, at the virtual party planned over the House Party app.
“We were all able to get on and have a drink with her,” Lesser said with a defeated laugh. “She opened her gifts up on the app and we all sat and watched her.”Lesser said the group is determined to reschedule the trip for the summer.“Lindsay keeps saying 'I'm not 40 until we go away,'” Lesser said.Scott said she was overwhelmed that her co-workers, who are like family, came up with the elaborate scheme.She said either of the two trips would have been nice had the coronavirus not had its own nefarious plans for her 40th.“Florida would have been the most fun,” Scott said. “I mean, who doesn't want to go to the beach?”She said one positive note is that she will never forget her 40th birthday being celebrated during a stay-at-home order.Scott appreciated the virtual party, which was as much fun as possible given the circumstances.“It made me feel lucky that I at least have family and friends who were willing to make adjustments and still make my birthday special,” she said. “I appreciate everything they did.”Lesser has her fingers crossed that the women can party it up in Florida in July.“We're going to stay positive that we're able to go,” she said.
