2012

Week Eleven

Born March 20th, 1932

Happy Birthday Mum!

Eighty (80)

What an incredible achievement to live 80 years and be in good health and spirit.  My mum always tells me she “still” has her marbles.  I certainly can validate that.  She is a whiz at her cross wordpuzzles and game shows.  Much smarter and quicker at answering those questions than myself and many others.  Pretty remarkable seens as she only went to school until she was 13.  I think my son and daughters college bill was $64K and I dont think they have the smarts of their gramps ? (our version of grandma).  I can remember so many great things about my mum, below are 10 of my favorites:

1) Her perserverance, tenacity in the midst of adversity when we had very little money. Some how we got through. She would always make sure we had something to eat. My favorite, chicken drippin’ sandwiches and, when we got weathly faggots and mushie pies.

2) Watching Mum and Dad, ballroom dance.  She is, and was a great dancer! (I have to giggle at memories of my Dad’s footwork and movements, he was  self-concensious; mum had natural rythm)

3)  Sunday dinners, i.e. roast beef and yorkshire pudding or roast pork or lamb with mint sauce.

4) Buying me treats on Saturday nights like cheese and onion crisps, pop and licorice as she got ready to go out up the club with my Dad and I had to stay home and behave.  She always had the prettiest and most elegant clothes.

5) Her self-sufficiency. The way she learned to live alone after my Dad died – almost 17 years ago.

6) The way she tried to take care of her Mother, Father, (my grandmother and grandfather) her brothers and sisters as they got older.

7) Her funny sense of humor or her people watching skills and her funny remarks.

) The way she gave me courage as my world felt apart (numerous times) and taught me to get back on the horse.

9) How awesome it was to watch her travel all the way to the US by herself at 79.

10) and most importantly the way she loves and is so proud of my son and daughter, her grandchildren, the apples of her eye.

Go Mum!  🙂