Celebrating Mom on my Birthday

Dear Mom,

I don’t remember how old I was—perhaps first grade—when I became curious about my birth and birthday. However, I do recall your answer clearly and how thrilled I felt at learning that we were both born in the same hospital, Scott and White in Temple, Texas.* You went on to share that it was the same hospital where you trained and worked as a nurse. I was in awe to realize I had been born at such an important place!

Birthdays were wrapped in wonderment. You always made sure my birthdays were special. In the late 50s, you bought an 8mm movie projector and to my utter delight and the amazement of my five- and six-year-old party guests you showed us Mickey Mouse cartoons.

At seven I received my first watch—with a Cinderella face—and a photo records me standing proudly at the table with my wristwatch and a doll cake you painstakingly made and placed prominently next to me.

Even when I turned 13 and we were living in a hotel while house-hunting in Virginia for Dad’s new assignment at the Pentagon, you asked the real-estate agent to stop by a grocery store so you could buy me a birthday cake.

Still today I love birthdays: I start celebrating early and celebrate long!

Mama, I turned 72 this month. Normally all the attention is on the person having the birthday, but Mom, although you passed in August 2010, I want to celebrate you and express my gratitude for giving me life and all the time and efforts you expended to make my birthdays special.

Love,
Kizzie Elizabeth

*Now known as Baylor Scott and White in Temple, Texas