Happy Birthday to my Mama

Today is my Mom's birthday.  I would gladly share how old she is except that I don't know.  She has told so many fibs about her age that she herself probably doesn't even know!  In fact, I cannot even be sure that her driver's license is accurate!!!

Oh,well, that's my Mama.  Fun and funny. I'll bet she is the only person in this country that can dial a rotary phone with her toes or jump up and down and click her heels together twice before she lands.  For real.   Never a lack of laughter when she's in the room.  Kind.  Whether it's dispensing candy to all the kids at church, delivering the most delectable brownies ever to a neighbor or including someone on the fringe in her circle, she is kind to her core.  Empathetic.  She can rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep better than anybody I have ever seen in my life.  No wonder there has been a constant stream of people to her door for the entirety of my life.  Once you've spent some time with my Mama, you just plain feel better.  Servant.  She is the most authentic example of servanthood I have ever seen.  Has absolutely no desire for attention or recognition (runs from it like a jackrabbit, actually!) But if there's a need anywhere in the county, she'll find it...and meet it.  Before anyone else knows it exists.  Maker of memories.  Cookies and lemonade at the end of my day.  Sitting at her kitchen table to tell her my troubles.  Picnics at Dowdell's knob.  Daytona Beach vacations.  Black bags at Christmas. Secret keeper.  Putting up peaches in the summer to enjoy all winter.  Early morning birthday calls.  Iron-clad promises of prayer. Rocking my babies.  Complete acceptance.  Unfailing love.  That's my Mama. 

She's all those things and lots more.  But most of all, she's my Mama.  If, by God's mercy and grace, some day, my children feel about me like hers do about her, I will consider myself the most blessed woman in the universe.  I love her with all my heart and want to be just like her when I grow up.

Happy Birthday, Alice.