Of all things… today is my Mom’s birthday.  Yes…. as I write this… it is her birthday.  October the 27th.  I am very happy and grateful for the day she was born.  For many reasons.  The first and most obvious… without her… there is no me.  Well, that’s pretty dang huge (for me, at least).

Yes, she came into this world some 90 years ago.

Back when Mom was born, the world was a different place, I’ll tell you.  Buster Keaton was one of the biggest stars at the box office.  TIME magazine was founded in her birth year. New York stadium opened to a sell-out crowd of 60,000 people.   The Yanks won the series that year too.

Not many homes had electricity in the U.S.  But by the end of the decade… 99 percent would be wired for such.

Sanka Coffee is introduced in the U.S.  Better than that… the Milky Way candy bar also comes on the scene…. and…. Reese Peanut Butter Cups.  Darn good year for candy.

Moses… I mean Charlton Heston, was born 23 days earlier.

You could get 3 heads of lettuce for a quarter; a pound of bacon for 47 cents;  and a pound of bread for a dime.  We are just a tomato shy of a BLT.

Her Dad owned a grocery.  When she was little, she ate ketchup on saltine crackers for a snack.  I think it had something to do with the Depression, and what Grandpa could bring home from the store.  But it wore off on me….  I can eat a ton of crackers and Heinz ketchup, I’ll tell you.

Yep.  She grew up during the Depression, and married my Dad just after World War II.  She kissed him first.  She is full of spunk to this very day.

Mom always has a smile, welcomes folks with open arms and will feed you like crazy.  If you visit her home, she treats you like one of the family.  She overcame a lot  in her life.  Gave birth to seven children.  That is A LOT to overcome in anyone’s life, I’ll tell you.

She accepted us for who we were, and encouraged us to grow into that authentic person.  She did not pass judgement, or try to change us.  She loved us unconditionally.  She still does.  All this, while making the best dang Potato Soup on the planet.  Not to mention her Camp Stew.

Bless my Mom….  my wonderful Mom.  I owe her so much… for wiping tears… and snotty noses.  For bandaging skinned knees and broken hearts.  For sewing our clothes, and then washing them clean.

For going out in the backyard and playing catch with me after school.

For believing in me… and loving me.  For helping me to become exactly who I am.  Happy Birthday Mom.  I am one lucky kid to have you for my Mom.

“For a tree to become tall it must grow tough roots among the rocks.”
-Friedrich Nietzsche