Jul 21 2008
Belated
Isn’t she lovely?
My Mom’s birthday was Saturday and I didn’t wish her a proper birthday with a blog post about how rad she is. Yes, I said rad.
So, my Mama turned 59 this weekend and I know that she is struggling with aging, as we all do. It probably didn’t help that Isaac put the numbers on her cake and turned them around, so they said 95. Oops. However, I wish she would believe me when I tell her that she is beautiful just the way she is, no matter how many decades she has existed on this earth. Honestly, I hope that I age as well as she has because looking like her as I round the corner on 60 would be a pretty amazing thing.
There is a lot I could say about my Mom here, like the fact that she has a wicked sense of humor and a buff body from all the Pilates she does. I could go on and on about how she has a way of saying just the right thing to me when I am dangling off the cliff of self-involvement and pity. She also has an uncanny way of remembering the name and artist of every song. Everytime we are in the car and the radio is on she says, “Okay, 10 bucks to anyone who can tell me the name and artist of this song.” Sometimes, if she is feeling sassy, she’ll throw in the year it came out as well. Funny though, she always asks because she has the answer but in the event that you do know the answer, the 10 dollars never seems to materialize…
When I was little, my Mom worked hard to make sure that I did my homework, played sports and became a well rounded person. She always pushed me to do a little more than I wanted but never too much so as to be overwhelming. In this respect, she taught me a wonderful life lesson and that is, anything good in your life probably came with a little bit of sacrifice (or a lot).
She wasn’t all homework and hard work though - she knows how to party, my friends. She always had music on and we used to dance around the front room like total freaks when I was little. In fact, I think my greatest ambition at age 6 was to be a Solid Gold dancer. Good times. My mom is also the master at hide and seek. She even plays this game wtih the dogs and manages to freak them out too.
One of her best traits however is that of the housewarming nature. Let me explain…
Every house I have moved into, my Mom has been there from day 1 making it look beautiful and helping unpack. She can make a house look like a home in 48 hours flat. My first apartment in college was decorated a la Jane and my roomates were shocked when they moved in. She helped turn a dumpy college apartment into the cool place to hang out. Now, I will say she has a thing for dried flowers that I don’t share but everything else is spot on.
The older you get, the more you appreciate your parents. I also think that becoming a parent certainly makes you realize how hard that role is and maybe, just maybe, the people who raised you deserve a little grace for their mistakes. I love and appreciate my Mom today more than I ever did when I was little and depended on her for everything. Mostly because now, I fully realize all that she has done for me.
So, Mama - I love you and I am darn glad that you are still around. Thanks for sharing this birthday with me. Here’s to next year, the big 6-0!
dont you just love mommy dearest??
i tell her that everyday.. ” i wish i would age as nicely as you do”.
she just corrected me in saying that by the way. apparently its would..not will.
sometimes i wish she knew how beautiful she was in our eyes.
anyways..love you sister!
O.K. so just because my father was from Arkansas and I have always loved dogs, not sure but when I look in the mirror I wonder if a Sharpei(dog) was a distant cousin. Thank you for a great birthday gift..I miss being somebody’s daughter and somebody’s sister but thanks to you I am somebody’s Ammy. Your a great mother and God gave you two incredible little boys that will make you famous someday. Two little girls out there somewhere don’t know it yet but they have you and Kevin to thank for the geat husbans they will have one day. I love you all Mom Meuers
Your are right about your Mother Jenn. She is a very special person and truly one of a kind. What a blessing she is to all those who come into contact with her. But I feel the most blessed of all because I’m the one who gets to kiss her goodnight.
But on the other hand:
You forgot to mention that she likes to hide under the table by the back door and grab the unsuspecting individual’s leg (me) . . . just to hear me scream as I jump up and down yelling “Oh my God, Oh my God!” I’d get mad at her but her laughter is so contagious that I end up laughing at her as she’s laughing at me. What are ya gonna do with a gal like that?
By the way Jenn, you have quite a talent for story telling . . . something else you get from Mom. Keep on keeping on!
Mom Meuers…. I love her too! Ever since I met her she has always made me feel so loved and accepted in your family. I think she is beautiful inside and out! Plus she gave birth to my BFF, so what else could I ask for!!