puppetmaker | Happy Birthday to My Mom!

My mother is a fine example of the American Dream. She is the child of immigrants who worked hard to give her a better life in America. She worked hard and got a good education. She went into nursing because, at the time, it was one of the few jobs that would allow women to have a career. She has worked very hard for the success that she has in her career. Nobody handed anything to her. It is very much a by your own bootstraps story. And she and my father insured that I had a better life and more options than she did. I am very proud of her for than among many other things that she has done.

She has taught me a lot of things along the way. (I think that the mad organizational skills are genetic and I am hoping that Caroline picked that gene up too.) She taught me how to pack for a trip. She taught me about how to buy fruits and vegetables. I still consult her on occasion for those veggies I don't buy that often. She taught me a lot about cooking although that was for a long time against my will but I am glad that she made me do it.

She taught me how to sew. When I was a kid she made me the neatest one-piece sun suits (I think that is what they were called). I would pick the fabric and she would sew them for me. I loved watching her cut out a pattern and then make a garment or something for the house. Caroline does the same thing now when I sew things. I have her sewing machine and my grandmother's sewing machine. We use Singer sewing machines.

She gave me mysteries to read. She introduced me to Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie long with P.D. James and Martha Grimes. She would read comic strip compilations of her favorite series. I still buy her the new "For Better; For Worse" when they come out. Both of my parents taught me that reading was important by example since they are both avid readers.

She made sure that her four kids were healthy, clean, and happy. I had a really good childhood and for that I will always be grateful. My mother has been an excellent parent to me and my brothers and sister. She is the example that I strive for in my raising of Caroline.

I love you Mom. Happy Birthday. I hope you like the present and the card that Caroline made. She wrote the Happy Birthday all by herself.

I am grateful that my Mom is my Mom.