The Native Iowan

Good news and bad news… Good news always first… You’re still alive. Bad news… You just turned 66.

Unless you’re from a culture that counts ” 1 ” at birth. Then I’d be 67.

Gee, only 33/34 more years until I get to be 100.

I’m unusually sad today because I know, for the first time in my life, my mom wont say “Happy Birthday”.

I shan’t be receiving a birthday card from my Mom.

One of Mom’s big “things” was sending birthday cards. Ive always cherished and saved my cards. I always told my kids and grandkids that Granny’s cards were precious. Keep them, hide them away. Enjoy them often.

Mom was prolific in her birthday greetings by card. Each and every member of of our very extensive family got a birthday greeting, an acknowledgment, personalised in her own hand.

So I could never feel “special”, everyoen got one, I was one of many, (story of my life) but for that instant, when the card is received, the world had a big smile.

Some of her cards arrived months late. But they were always a big “make your day” sorta thing.

As she got older it became a game to try to decipher what she wrote. It was always a team effort. We’d manage eventually, read it all after a bit of effort.

And the beat goes on. Hapi Bday to me. Many more to come.

Smiles