On this day, one year ago, I posted a rather cryptic blog on The Taiwan Drift. It alluded to being in a homeward-bound airplane and Irreconcilable Differences. In the next post, I explained flatly that my dear friends and family had only but fallen prey to a harmless April Fool’s Day prank.
What I failed to report was how exactly my friends and family fell prey…
Mind you, I never suspected my closest of friends and kin to be duped by this stunt, but that’s precisely who my prank worked best on. First off, the reason the bit pulled over so well is because I posted at Midnight on April Fool’s Day in Taiwan. Which means it was only the beginning of March 31st back home in California. Totally Legitimate. Regardless, these are the people who know me the best, and should have known better. If you’re wondering, I still hold this over their heads.
The first group: My family.
At LAX ...not on April 1st
If I remember, it was my sister who stumbled upon my blog. Immediately called my mom:
“Chase is coming home! He’s on an airplane!”
Exasperatedly, my mom explains to my WHOLE family (grandma, uncles, dad, siblings) the “situation,” and situation around the “situation” that makes it believable. As she worked up the worry of my entire immediate family; as she grabbed her keys and put on her shoes to head home to check her email for confirmation (and flight schedule), someone (my brother, I think) noticed the date.
“Mom, it’s April Fool’s Day in Taiwan.”
And all of a sudden, all of those “situations” that made this “situation” plausible simply… vanished.
Disclaimer: Not all Roommates Pictured
The Second Group:
My Roommates
Before moving to Taiwan, I lived in an apartment with 3 (and sometimes up to 5) other guys. We were a tight bunch (and at 1100 sq ft of living space, we had to be). It’s safe to say they knew me well; somehow, they never saw this coming. Two in particular were particularly excited about my return. Because of my facebook post with the same cryptic message, one of my roommates and his girlfriend clicked on my blog. Excitedly, he called the other roommate.
Roommate 1: “Chase is coming home!”
Roommate 2:”WHAT?! Are you sure?!”
Roommate 1:”Yea! [Said girlfriend] read it to me from his blog!”
Apparently, Roommate 1 doesn’t read, but his girlfriend will do it for him. Roommate 2 immediately sent a text to a mutual friend. She read the blog to verify. Believed it. Then caught herself and becomes the first person to wise up to my act. She then texts Roommate 2:
“You do realize it’s April 1st in Taiwan right now, don’t you?”
“What? I dunno… Chase wouldn’t do that.”
…
“Besides, [said girlfriend] read it on his blog.”
I’m glad they consider my blog to be gold. But the story didn’t end there. Roommates 1 & 2 + Said Girlfriend made dinner plans together for THAT NIGHT, just so they could talk over plans for all of us when I returned.
That’s true love, folks.
Safe to say, it was also the last time any of them read my blog… 
So while the rest of you frantically try to find a way to dupe your tweeps, just know that’s so last year.
Though, I did find an old post that should be a joke…
For your time: Here’s a list of History’s Greatest April Fool’s Day Hoaxes. #92 is quite a doozie.
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hahahahahaahahah i totally fell for it last year!
Awww MEAN! Think how excited they must have been!!
This is why I hate April Fool’s Day – you can never trust a word anybody says! Everybody is cloaked in a veil of suspicion…
*sigh*
Yea… probably not the best April Fool’s joke to play.. I get really nervous on this day, I am gullible enough as is that I don’t like being the victim to any of the jokes.
Best,
Hannah Katy
Hannah, Maggie, it was innocent. Honest. I never thought anyone would believe me! Especially not halt family gatherings and form dinner parties!!
Lucky brilliance.
And Hannah, I’m with you, I walk around “cloaked in a veil of suspicion” (as maggie said) all day! It’s rough. haha
Ms Stiletto! I remember your comment
I’m glad you’ve stuck around! It’s been a fun year.
Very nice! Though cruel, well played:) I come from a long line of pranksters myself, but this year seems all too mellow. Maybe something is in store for me in the next 45 minutes:)
The orchestra thing was one of your finest moments, Chase! Don’t you dare try to downplay it!