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Now THIS is a birthday gift Bob Pennell photo Sandy Barbieri had no idea an 80-piece marching band would greet her when she stepped out her door Saturday morning to a 45th-birthday surprise. Her husband and perpetrator, Tony Barbieri, says he's making up for last year's present of cleaning supplies. Last year, Tony Barbieri bought his wife a mop for her big day; this year he was a bit more original By DANI DODGE For her 45th birthday party, Sandy Barbieri got the biggest surprise of her life -- even better than a 12-year-old jet-black Jaguar seven years ago. When Barbieri walked out the door of her east Medford house Saturday morning, more than 80 members of the North Medford High School band were marching toward her, playing "The Sound of Music." Nearly 50 friends, family and neighbors also were gathered in her cul-de-sac holding helium balloons aloft in the misty air. It was a gift from her husband, Tony Barbieri. Sandy screamed and cried. "I'm amazed and thrilled and very proud to have such a wonderful husband, family and friends," Sandy said. Sandy, a nurse at Ashland Community Hospital, and Tony, a flooring contractor who owns Floortrends, have been married for 12 years. They have two children aged 10 and 6. For her 44th birthday, Tony got Sandy a collection of cleaning supplies -- a dust mop and vacuum bags, that sort of thing. (Yes, they stayed married.) He figured he could do better this year. His wife played the clarinet in her high school band some 30 years ago. She still has records of her performances and plays them on the turntable. And she loves the movie "The Sound of Music," especially its opening song, "The hills are alive with the sound of muuuusic." And Tony wanted something to celebrate her life. After all, he said, not only does Sandy keep their household together -- paying the bills and being a great mom -- but she is loved by practically everyone she's ever met and she volunteers like crazy. Among her civic duties this year, she's the co-president of the PTO at her kids' school. The couple isn't much into gifts at birthdays -- "We got winter sweaters and summer shorts; I guess we have everything we need" Tony reasons -- so Tony got creative. He broached the marching band idea to North Medford High three months ago and added a "large donation" as an incentive. Band Director Steve Thickett said the band would use the money for uniforms and instruments. The deal paid off. The rain stopped just 12 minutes before the band hit its first note. And Sandy was totally surprised. Although, when she heard the music as she stepped out her door, she knew immediately what was going on. "I knew it was the North Medford band, because they are my favorites," she said. "I just fell apart from there." Afterward, the whole kit and caboodle -- tuba players, nurses, Sandy's hairdresser and a den of Cub Scouts -- dined on five Costco birthday cakes. (Tony had been storing the desserts in the neighbor's refrigerator.) Tony figures his wonderful surprise ought to buy him some bargaining chips of spousal forgiveness. "I'll be able to get away with murder for the next few months," he mused. "I can go to Mr. Smith's and shoot some pool." Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA