You Are My Sunshine

Today is my mom's birthday!  She told me last night on instant message that she's not counting birthdays anymore, so I can't just come out and tell you that she's 78 today, but isn't she beautiful?  I love how she smiles from ear to ear whenever anyone comes in the room.

And here's the kind of girl she is.  You would never know, and I didn't, that in this picture she was in a lot of pain because she got her finger caught in a car door between the wedding and the reception.  Never said a word to me - I found out the next week.  It didn't surprise me, because she has always been the Pollyanna of our family.  If someone  broke his leg and had to stay in bed for a month, she'd say, "Oh, well you needed the rest anyway, honey."  I love that about her.  Positive.

The blog fairy is not being kind to me today, and it won't let me post more than one photo without deleting everything.  I wish I could share the pictures in my head of my mom looking amazing in her shorts and sleeveless blouse, singing away while she tackled the never-ending laundry that three kids generated; of her making chocolate milkshakes and letting us have a picnic in the side yard under the big elm tree; of her serving up Sunday dinner after Sunday dinner for our extended family; making birthday cakes and stretching grocery dollars so we could have our favorite Nestle's Quik and pop tarts.  If I had a nickel for every chocolate chip cookie that woman has made, I'd be a rich girl.  But no one could be richer than Roy, Kirk and me - we've gotten to have Dottie Jean as our mom!

Shall I continue?  Yes, please!  She also made many of our clothes when we were kids - and made many for her grandchildren and their dolls as well.  My Girl  treasures and still has the little jumpers she wore to school that her Gammy sewed.  I look forward to seeing them on my own little grandchildren someday.

She is the consummate caregiver.  She took care of her own mom and my dad's mom lovingly and selflessly (and obviously did a good job because they both lived to be 95!)  Now she looks after my Aunt June, keeping her supplied with lollipops to give away to her friends at "the home" and helping her play bingo.  I look forward to the chance to care for her and my dad in the same way someday, but so far they refuse to get old, so I will just have to be patient.

Most of all, she is a natural at being a mom.  Whereas I tried so hard to be the perfect mother, she just is.  She loves us and raised us so confidently.  She created memories in every holiday and every ordinary day.  She is absolutely essential to me in every way - I can't imagine one minute on this earth without her.  Wish I could be there to make a moist and delicious cake for her, cook her a fabulous dinner and scratch her back.  Instead I'm remembering her sweet voice singing old hymns, being very thankful that she'll be cooking a Thanksgiving turkey with my girl this year, and hoping my present arrived in her mailbox today!