Birthday Joys

Yesterday was my birthday. It was the first one without my mother. I'm going to miss the phone call from her & Daddy: they would call us on our birthdays and sing "Happy Birthday" to us. Well, except for last year. Mama forgot, and it was her job to remember everyone's birthdays! Last year, I went to Mass with them, and then we went to supper. They offered to pay for me, so I let them. A few days later, Mama asked me why I didn't remind her it was my birthday, and I told her I wasn't going to act like a kid and tell her! It wasn't that important to me, but secretly I missed having her & Daddy sing. Mama could sing like a bird...Daddy sings off-key and can't carry a tune, but he sings anyway!
I had a plan to have Mass said for Mama on my birthday, but I waited until the week  before to go by the office. I was extremely surprised (and a little freaked out) that the 8:30 Mass was open. Then, last Thursday at the contemporary music group practice, the director decided to change the Meditation Song to "Were you There". I remember when Mama first decided to sing this during Lent. I remember her telling me about it, and then hearing her sing it. She really loved that song. The director told me to play the intro (I didn't tell him any of this beforehand). I could really feel her presence when I played it during Mass. We did 5 verses, but I told the director that I was only going to play 4. It was a good thing I did that, because I had a little tearful moment during that last verse.
CH had a motorcycle/camping weekend thingy, so after Mass I went by Starbucks for my free birthday drink. I got home, relaxed, did some stuff around the house, and talked to my MIL & FIL.  When CH got home, he had a present for me from my SIL (his brother's wife). Let me tell you, she is THE most thoughtful person I know.
                                                               
After going to Starbucks, I thought about going by the cemetery but then decided I didn't want to go without Daddy. The poem that she put on the back of the picture couldn't have come at a better time. (You may have to click on it to see what it says.)
I ran out to get something to eat, and as I was driving home, there was a young man with his earbuds in, dancing across the parking lot. I'm talking full-out dancing, putting on a show. He was dancing to beat the band! He saw me, I gave him a thumbs up, and he danced harder! Made me smile!!!

I let the dogs out, and saw a couple of cardinals at the feeder. I ran in, got my big girl camera, and they were gone. I have the hardest time getting pictures of them; they always fly away just as I'm about to take a picture! Not today, though. I managed to snap some with my camera since I didn't have to get close to them.
 (This one was high in the tree.)






9 comments:

  1. Fabulous shots with "just" your camera phone! Wow!

    Happy belated birthday. I'm sure it was hard without your mom ... those first are always hard. {{{hug}}}

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  2. Happy birthday to you, Mary!! Loved seeing your adorable baby photos and taking a trip down memory lane with you :)

    You mama will always be with you! Never forget that!

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  3. Sending you belated birthday wishes :) It almost gave me goosebumps reading about the Meditation song! I love it when things like that happen concerning our lost loved ones.

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  4. Ahhh - Happy Birthday. I can only imagine how different it would be without your mother. They just always have the best memories of your birth.
    Thumbs up for getting your Starbucks drink :)

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  5. Happy belated birthday! The first one without a mom is definitely the hardest! My mom would always send birthday cards with a little money in it since we lived far away. She died 8 days before my birthday back in 2006. Sounds like you had a nice day though filled with some nice surprises! That poem was beautiful and so true!

    betty

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  6. Happy Birthday! Beautiful memories.....((Hugs))

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  7. Happy birthday!! I love that you shared your touching memories with us. Thank you. We sang that song at Mass last weekend, too. I know the words by heart, since I grew up with it in the United Methodist church. I always whisper to Joe that "that's a Methodist hymn!" and it makes him chuckle. My mom sang in the choir...and at home, all the time. Many hymns bring tears to my eyes, but in a good way now. Memories are priceless!

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  8. Happy Birthday to you. Hold on to those memories. I've been there. I lost my mother 6 yrs ago and so far, it hasn't gotten any easier.

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  9. Happy birthday! Yes, I'm way late. It sounds like a wonderful birthday, if bittersweet. Your mother was clearly close through the day.

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