Happy Birthday Mom

On one of the coolest birth dates ever, 4/4/44, Gladys and Arvie Laituri welcomed my mom into the world. I’m so thankful for every day I ever spent with my mother, but birthdays in our house were always extra special. I still feel guilty about the time I made my mom a birthday present and hid it under my bed. Because I was such a messy little kid I lost it. I was crawling under my bed when I heard the family singing “Happy Birthday” and I gave up hope. I never did find that drawing. I also remember a year when I asked if I could put the icing on Mom’s birthday cake (which she of course made herself). As I was finishing the final touches Josh came up and said something like “Nice job Terry, Happy Brithday Mom.” I had missed spelled it. Damn. It was the thought that counts right Mom? 

I know I know, I have a problem with only remembering the negatives, but here are a couple of good ones. When I was about 13 or so I planned a surprise party for Mom at her favorite restaurant, Tony Roma’s. It wasn’t anything extravagant, just the family and the Shearers. She probably knew what was going on, but it was a nice birthday for her anyway. A few years ago I planned a picnic for Mom in Forest Falls, another favorite spot for Mom. It was cold with snow and ice everywhere. The snow looked pretty hard packed so we decided to take a little hike. The “snow” was really a shell of frozen ice. When you applied pressure the ice would break sending your foot 6 inches closer to the ground. Now if you’re a young person with any leg strength or balance you just pull you foot out and take another step. If you’re Mom, you fall over. Then you get up, take another step and fall over again. I would feel bad making fun of my dearly departed mother, but she was laughing harder than any of us. This is where Steve offered one of his great one-liners “Instead of Forest Falls, we should call this place Grandma Falls.” We had a nice little picnic. I wanted to take care of everything for the picnic but Mom couldn’t handle that so I think I put her in charge of drinks and chips. When I arrived to pick her up she somehow managed to stay up half the night preparing her drink and chip assortment, had two ice chest full of every beverage a human could need, 5 bags of chips (for 5 people), deviled eggs, plus bags of plates, cups, tablecloths, and flatware, just in case I forgot. 

Last year Mom’s birthday arrived a few days after she moved into the hospital. We were finally getting an idea of the severity of the situation and dark clouds loomed overhead. Nevertheless, we busted in Mom’s hospital room with balloons, flowers, presents, red velvet cupcakes, and the classic Snodgrass Family “Happy Birthday” sign. Mom was sitting up, talking, laughing, and for a few brief moments we weren’t surrounded by the grayness of hospitals, cancer, pain, medication, and fear. We were home. We were the loving, loud, laughing, silly, caring, and special family Mom had worked her life to create. 

On Mom’s birthday I’m so appreciative for all the gifts she ever gave me, but none more than her love and the family she brought me into. I’m so thankful for my siblings and their families. I’m thankful Brenda, Steve, Susan, and Reagan were able to join me up in “Grandma Falls” on Sunday. For the feeling of Mom in my heart every day, I am thankful.  Happy Birthday Mom.