Today is a very special day. It's my Mom's 81st Birthday. Wow. 81. I hope I can live that long. My Mom is a very special lady. With all of the dysfunction that's out there in today's insane world, my Mom was able to make it and she's got three very proud and loving sons to prove it. There is so much to say and so many stories to tell. But there really is only one thing I can say to her today as she celebrate the big 81...Happy Birthday Mom!
Mom has always been there for us. She and my Dad raised 3 boys in a time when times were different. She never really worked a job outside our home but she worked her butt off. She was always there when we came home from school and always supported us in whatever we decided to do. She showed us the commitment a Mom must make in raising children. An art from that seems to have long passed. You can say all you want about the "stay-at-home" Mom, she's the most unrecognized worker in the whole world. You see, she was a household executive. A Manager.
She showed us values that are lost in today's world. She kept the three of use boys from killing each other. She was married to my Dad for 50 plus years. She remained at his side through thick and thin. When my Dad passed away last year, it was my Mom who was strong. So strong. Sure she had those times of grief. But she's been able to move on and enjoy her life - spending time with friends and family and doing the things she wants to do. Our goals as sons are to honor her and enjoy her in what precious time she has left. You can look at 81 as being old but this lady is one young 81! She can do more things than most of us and run us ragged when she's got stuff to do. Her pace isn't as fast as when she was younger, but she's still strong and out there doing it! Heck, she learned to drive at 80! She's a human resource department in herself!
My greatest memories are of the family meals. Mom used to make us a full-course, fully-balanced meal. It was served every night out of dishes, not pots and pans. We have some of the most fantastic memories of those meals...many of which she invented. I mean, how can you beat her version of Macaroni, Cheese & Tomato and my personal favorite...Apple Crisp. could eat 3 bowls and a whole Apple Crisp myself. And her Spaghetti and Meatballs. Oh my gosh. You couldn't get better at any Italian restaurant. So you see...she is a fine Chef.
But most of all, of all the jobs she's had and loves the most, it's being a Mom (and a grandma or "baba") that she loves the best. And she's damn good at it. At 81, she's in good shape and will probably live to 100! That's my hope because she's got a lot of love to offer and the many years of wisdom she can impart can't be beat. She'll never leave upstate New York because that's where her home is. That's where our home is. And that home was and is always filled with love, joy and laughter. And if you don't have any of that, that you ain't got squat. What a Mom!Happy 81st Birthday Mom.
We love you more than you will ever know!
