Dressed in my new pink tutu, a plastic crown, and some screaming 80s leg warmers, I walked around the city of Randers alone with zero clue what would happen next. All I knew was that I was SUPER loved by friends and family–people who would arrange an entire treasure hunt and make sure I looked like a clown doing it. I didn’t know whether to cry in gratitude or laugh at the embarrassment.
Let’s rewind a bit. After moving back to my parents’ briefly before leaving for the States, my siblings and I planned to have a cute little sister-brother-hygge at my sister Joy’s place in Randers. Alex, my brother, had a parkour/free-running show in the same city that we were going to see friday night. The plan was to watch the show, then come back to Joy’s for dinner and a sleepover. I made sure to change my shift and get off work early that evening. I was so stoked to have some quality time with my family and be there to support Alex.
(Just a little Danish convo with my siblings about my brothers non-existing free running show…)
Way before I looked decent enough to go anywhere (I took a nap as soon as I came home from work), Joy asked me to help her buy some groceries for the night. We didn’t get more than a few feet out of the door before the route changed. Lucky for her, Joy said, she’d won a theater gift card a few days prior. “Can we just stop by and scoop it up?” she asked. Me (thinking: Great, I look like shit and haven’t showered): “Sure, ofc we can pick that up. That’s awesome you won!”
You guessed it: There was no gift card. And I quickly realized Alex didn’t have a free-running show, either. Dinner plans also disappeared.
Instead, Joy had led me to the first location of my treasure hunt, and I was more than surprised. Something was going on–but I honestly had no idea what that meant.
At the theater, a girl handed me a note saying something like this:
“Put on these pink leg warmers so you look flawless and walk to the downtown pub. When you’re there, ask for another note.”
Joy suddenly left me with a “you’ll do this on your own!” and I started on the solo trip. It was maybe a quarter mile down to one of the local bars, which, I should say, I’d actually never been to until that day. Exactly as it said in the note, I entered the pub around 2 pm, which was surprisingly filled with people, most of them double the age (and size) of myself.
At the bar, not only the note but a tutu skirt awaited me. Modeling my two new “statement pieces,” I was told to stop by my old workplace (Flying Tiger) and then continue to my current workplace at the time (Restaurant Bones), all with some extra accessories in a matching color.
Picture this (actually I’ll picture it for you…) disco princess heading towards the final destination smiling at and high-fiving kids on the way. I was nervous about this final spot–a church in downtown Randers–and was making up some pretty awkward scenarios in my head. But thankfully I didn’t make it into the entrance before I saw a squad of very familiar faces leap out from a side alley. They saved the best for last: a bride-to-be band! As if the outfit wasn’t enough, now I had mascara marks down my cheeks. Gothic Princess…
No words. Being reminded that my loved ones planned out such a detailed surprise really warmed my heart. Good friends will take you on a dinner, but BEST friends will laugh their asses off while you strut around like a very lost Barbie.
This wasn’t even the end! We returned home with lunch and then suddenly got a visitor. Of course the first thought when the doorbell rang was stripper, but I had doubts after seeing a lady step inside. A Tupperware party? Now you might have a guess as to what kind of…event…they had set up for us, but I was a big question mark until I was handed an order list with all of the…things…this nice lady was selling (SPOILER: definitely not Tupperware…). She left after showing the products, but, as the expression goes, the night isn’t over til the bottle is empty (I just made up that expression). Quizzes, wine, games, champagne, dance, more wine and a continuation of the dance at the good old clubs we hang at.
All in all a phenomenal way of celebrating my engagement with Devin, but also a reminder that even though I’ll be leaving Denmark, I have friends who’ll always stand by me. No matter what (tutu included).
To everyone who needs a reminder: take a look around! I’m sure you have friends and family who would go out of their way to put a smile on your face, do the unexpected, and dress you up in very ridiculous clothes. Love is so near.
Kys og kram,
Victoria Liv