Eight years ago when Mom turned eighty-eight she had her
first birthday party. She had never before been dressed in absolutely
everything new including her jewelry or at least, not any time that she could
remember. It can be a little difficult for an adult child to picture her mom as
a girl, yet I can. I see her with her dark hair skating through the streets of
Lexington like I used to skate through the sidewalks of my school, only my mom
had a twin who skated with her. I can
imagine her getting a new pair of skates every Christmas as she said they did,
skates and maybe a new doll, and stockings with fruits, nuts and candy. I can
imagine her and her sister, my and Larry’s Aunt Jan giggling as they teased
teachers and even their dates as to which one was which. I can even feel a little sorry for their
other sister, my and Larry’s Aunt Evelyn. Mom said the two of them would back
each other up in case someone did something wrong, always saying it was Evelyn
causing any problem that came up.
But mostly I see her as a wife and mother. There were times
when we were young that she and Daddy laughed and kissed and daddy teased her
until we couldn’t decide if she was laughing or crying. Some nights I think of
her and almost hear her singing with the radio, especially early in the mornings
when she thought I was asleep. There is no Christmas carol sung anywhere as
beautiful as her voice singing with the radio, or the surprise in her voice when
I found a record of “Silver Bells” Daddy had hidden as a surprise for her in
1951.
She told me about the days of the Second World War and how
everybody went crazy with joy the day it ended, and how her brother fought on D
Day. One time she even told me about their little sister, Christine, who had
died at nine months of age, and how she still remembered holding her on the
porch swing.
So many memories she carries inside her head now and I wish
I had recorded some of those talks. I would encourage everyone to keep a
journal of sorts or write a book like I did and embarrass their children one
day.
However, today Mom turns NINETY-SIX! I wish she felt like
having another birthday party, but am thankful she’s around to celebrate in her
own comfortable way.
It would mean a lot to me, and to her, if some of you who
were at that party would remember her this day and week and let her know she is
as loved now as she was that special night that still means so much to her. If
you still are fortunate enough to have your mom close by, even as close as a
facebook post, send her a special hug just because you love her and that will
help me celebrate Mom’s day too.
Happy birthday Geneva Yarborough! Mom!
