Mom ran to the limo hired for her 60th birthday — but completely lost it when she saw who was waiting inside

Every birthday is special, especially those in our later years. With each passing year, we don't just celebrate getting older but also relive the journey, the milestones and the friendships that shape our lives. On a similar note, Gretchen Krall delightfully surprised her mother, Carol Krall, on her 60th birthday by reuniting her with all her friends. The incredibly beautiful story was featured on Good Morning America's (@GMA) official YouTube channel. 

Carol thought it would just be a simple birthday dinner with her family—until she noticed an elegant white limousine parked at a distance. Her heart raced with excitement as she immediately pulled out her phone, clicking pictures in complete awe. Just as Carol was admiring her stunning ride for the day, someone in the background asked her to get inside the car. Upon hearing this, she ran toward the vehicle, and simultaneously, the door opened, revealing a group of familiar faces—her friends! Overwhelmed with emotions, Carol took a few steps back and screamed at the top of her voice. "I have never been so shocked in my entire life. I was so excited because it was a limo. I just couldn't stand it, so I was taking pictures and my husband was pushing me down the drive, and the girls were like, 'Mom, take the pictures later,'" she recalled. 

Carol went on to share how her entire friend group had been inseparable from the beginning, growing stronger with time. "Any of those people, I could pick up my phone and call, and they would come. One of us has had cancer, we have had grandkids, we have had our parents die, weddings, funerals," she added, explaining their bond. From dancing to one of her favorite songs, "Dancing Queen," to having champagne, Carol truly had an amazing 60th birthday celebration with her girlfriends. "It was just so awesome," she added.

Similarly, talking about birthdays, theme parties have been one of the trendiest things on social media. Take, for instance, Smriti (@thebrownvanlife on Instagram), whose husband, Kartik, hosted an “Oldies Gone Wild” themed birthday bash for her. It all started when Smriti's husband asked what she wanted to do for her birthday and she replied, "I am too old to party." Despite her not-so-exciting response, her husband went ahead with his wild idea. Well, all the guests arrived dressed as senior citizens, entirely embracing the birthday scheme. Talking about her birthday party, Smriti described the celebration as for those "who are not old but feel old." Interestingly, the dress code was “senior citizen chic,” and guests were all asked to embody their “older alter ego.”

 Additionally, the birthday bash also had a photo booth for vintage-style pictures and a young boy serving as the DJ for the night. Smriti was completely awestruck by her husband's creativity and wrote, "I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday after not celebrating with these people for the past four years. Kartik truly made it perfect by renting a studio where we all got to spend quality time full of laughter and joy." Moreover, Smriti explained that she was a bit emotional seeing her older self. "Truly got a glimpse of what my future might look like as long as I make sure I focus on the NOW and keep adding these fun moments," she added.