Happy Birthday just looks prettier in French. July 18th is more than just Saturday today. It is my mom’s birthday. (age omitted) Last Saturday at this time we were getting ready for Brian and Beth’s wedding. I’m pretty sure I was in a chair at Estee Lauder having foundation painted on my face (oh yes, they use a big paint brush type item to apply foundation- que fancy!)
For her – - birthday, Mom would like to go see the new Harry Potter movie. I know, life is tough for me. I do hate Harry Potter so much… I digress…
For Father’s Day, I wrote about a few favorite memories I have of my dad. In that same vein, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite things about my mom.
- She read to me and instilled a love of reading. When I was little she would read and re-read Cinderella, but she read Brier Rabbit and did all kinds of voices; then it moved on to A Little Princess and The Secret Garden, making all stories something special to me. She also read at mass on Sundays. I remember her preparing and practicing and really trying to understand what she going to read to the congregation.
- I remember my mom painting her nails. She’s always had nice nails that I was never able to replicate. I got close once my 3rd year of college, but it required me to do my nails almost daily including the use of cuticle oil and it lasted only about a month. I think my brother picked up the good nail trait. She just naturally has nice, strong nails.
- Broccoli. Mom freakin loves broccoli. Frozen or fresh, my mom could eat an entire plate of broccoli. She can’t really eat it now because of the blood thinners she takes, but man.
- Popcorn. Is it a snack? Is it dinner? IT’S BOTH! A lot of nights Mom would just eat popcorn for dinner. She was an RN and worked 12 hour shifts, so a lot of times she didn’t get home from work until 8pm or later. Eating a full dinner didn’t make sense. I eat popcorn (well I don’t really eat it anymore because of the whole wisdom tooth thing and my nerves) out of the bag. Mom would pop it, put it in her white bowl, spray it with PAM, and salt it. (and spray it with more butter flavored PAM.)
- Stories from work – being the best stick on the floor (stick for IVs etc.) Mentoring new nurses. Chronic kids who were more than just patients.
- A very big heart. She’s one of the most compassionate and generous people you’ll ever meet- to a fault. If she’s got it, she’ll give it to you. Trust me, I know.
This is just a tiny bit of what I think of when I think of my mom.
My Mom, Bob, and Grandpa Boyle at Mom and Bob's Rehearsal Dinner
