Thursday, May 26, 2011

Birthdays

Happy Birthday to Me




Happy birthday to me I’m older, you see

and there are still some things I don’t know.

Like why does it take a birthday to make

you wonder how little you know.



I’ve played ‘Kick the Can’ and ‘Hide and Go Seek’

‘Run Sheep Run’ and the lot. Hearts and Flowers’

by the hours play ‘em and what have you got ?



Happy birthday to me I’m older you see

but there are still some things I don’t know.

Like why when you give all you’ve got you can give

do people get frightened... and go.



Off and running as though in a race

afraid to laugh or cry gone to wherever

seldom if ever stopping to tell you goodbye.



Happy birthday to me. Happy birthday to me.

I’ve read all the books that I own

but none of them say why it takes a birthday

to show you how little you’ve grown.



Words and music by Rod McKuen ©1968 by Stanyan Music
 
 
LOVE this poem. Especially the last stanza. Me in a nutshell. :-)
Had a birthday yesterday. Getting old. No one told me I don't look my age. :-( I cried on my sister's
shoulder about that last night. Ha! I'm better now. We concluded the only way to take care of that problem would be for me to colour my salt and pepper hair. Well, THAT'S never going to happen because
A. I'm too lazy and coloured hair takes work
B. I like the colour it is now. and
C. I'm too lazy and coloured hair takes work.
I also mentioned my pain to my sons who briefly said all the right words and then immediately the conversation degenerated into a running joke about old women and nursing homes and feebleness. Can't take yourself too seriously at my house for long. It's just not allowed!
But it was a nice quiet birthday, the big celebration is slated for this weekend. (prezzies, cake). There's something wrong about having a birthday during the work week so we have postponed it. And I'm not getting older...I'm getting one year closer to retirement! And that CAN'T be a bad thing!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Mother's Day

My sons never disappoint. I have a beautiful bouquet of red and yellow gerbera daisies sitting on the table beside me. Two bottles of wine chilling in the fridge.  (okay, one and a half...I got my gifts on Friday ;-). We tend to celebrate special days close to, not necessarily on. We are a strange bunch.



I had a cry this morning thinking about my Mom. I miss her. She died in 2006 after struggling with Alzheimer's for 6 years. We had a difficult relationship when I was younger, especially my teen years and early adulthood. I blame the middle child syndrome and the fact that my two sisters ganged up on me mercilessly. (Yes, Lynne I said it...mercilessly)...But Mom and I were able to come to a more relaxed, mutually respectful relationship in the years before her illness. She would call me every evening after supper and I can still remember her voice on the phone. "Marilyn? How are you?" We'd chat about our day and I'd tell her what the boys were up to. She loved my dog, Bo and Bo adored her. When Mom was diagnosed with her illness and becoming a little frail and uncertain Bo stopped being so boisterous around her and would just lay on the couch beside her, solicitous and caring, and Mom would gently pet her head. We have pictures, Mom looking a little confused and Bo stretched out on the couch beside her, her protector. (Dad would take the recliner and the rest of us would sit on dining room chairs since Bo took up most of the couch and no one dared to try to move her    ;-).
Mom loved being a grandmother. She knew each of the kids' favourite dishes and they were always on hand when they visited. She loved to worry. I remember when we moved out to Martensville and I had to start commuting to work. She said, "Just one more thing for me to worry about."  She liked to shop and was always dressed impeccably. It was a thorn in her side that the one daughter    (me ;-) who lived the closest had nothing but disdain for the whole shopping experience so when one of her other daughers visited she would always added shopping to the itinerary. She did good deeds without fanfare, never needing accolades. She was talented. She was compassionate. She was kind. She lived a life of grace. I take great pride in being told "you're just like Nana" or "you got that from Mom", but sadly, I don't hear it that often.
I miss you Mom and I love you. I think of you every day but I leave the tears for Mother's Day.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Fun stuff

I had never tried any of the fun stuff from this week. I can see myself using the Smilebox and Wordle for fun. I already use something similar to the Library Thing through my account at the Wheatland Library. Makes me wonder how many other things are out there for our use that I have no clue about. I really appreciate the work that went into this Thing Programme and learned alot!. Thank you Thing People.

Post Election

I have nothing further to add to my election post except....sigh.