Celebration Of Eighty Eight Years

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When birthdays are mentioned our first thoughts are usually of gifts.  Sometimes we ask for certain gifts.  They are not always gifts that others are able to give.  Sometimes we receive gifts that we never dreamed we would receive.  Some gifts are dependent upon receiving other gifts.  When many years have passed, the gifts we long for cannot be purchased or wrapped as a gift.  All of these and so much more were wrapped up in a perfect package for me.  Many people participated but it could only occur with God's help.

My daughter bought tickets to fly here for my birthday before two weeks of blizzard conditions, blinding and deep snow, and zero degree temperatures occurred.  Flights were cancelled and Airports were closed.   very real possibility existed that my daughter and her husband could not come.  I asked God for moderate weather for those days and He gave them to me.  I'm not always able to function real well and I told Him my concern.  I had good days.  After many years, my youngest son was home from Southeast Asia.  I never had a great number of friends in years gone bye but Face Book has changed the world so greatly that my first Birthday Greeting came from my friend Choiril in Indonesia when it was my birthday there: half a world away.

I knew something was afoot because for weeks I was hearing nothing or less than possitive comments.  A few hours before my birthday an invitation appeared on Face Book inviting anyone and everyone to come to the Garden Club Building at 6:00 PM to celebrate.  I continued to pretend to be unaware of anything.  My children had rented the building for the occasion.  The preparations inside defy my ability to describe; a tiered cake with flanking candelabras on a satin covered table skirted with red, white, and blue.  Did you know those are my favorite colors?  Three rows of tables in a "U" shape with crossed flags, balloons, and other decorations.  Red White and Blue Crepe Hearts with ribbons emblazoned with "In Your Honor" hung on the walls. 

My daughter and son-in-law arrived late Thursday Night and my children met, ate, and visited while I napped at home.  We had hugs, kisses, and a few tears before retiring for the night.  My granddaughter from Arkansas had not expected to be able to come but She and all four of my children and two grandsons were present for breakfast time on the morning of 25 February, 2011: my Eighty Eighth Birthday.  Oh, no one can know how the sound of those voices around the table laughing, joking, reminiscing, sounded to me.  I could almost hear the voice that was missing.  In the afternoon we met  to have portraits made and I jumped up and down for different poses 'til I thought I was a yo-yo.  Then we spent some time selecting the poses each of us wanted.  Heh Heh, I got a CD of all the poses and with my trusty printer and computer I am going to have fun. 

We had been so busy I had forgotten to eat and I was starving.  I started to raid the refrigerator and my son said we would go get something to eat. (It was nearing 6:00 PM).  He drove to the east and stopped at a store and went in; maybe he bought something??  He drove to the west and pulled in at a club named after a church in Tennessee.  It isn't a church.  He knew that I knew we were not going in there.  From there, he proceeded to the Garden Club And I walked ahead toward the door and entered to meet a small crowd of people who were singing "Happy Birthday" and the decorations amazed me.  As they parted for me, I saw a very special person sitting at the table: My Mary.  She has cared for me and made independent life possible for almost six years.

I won't attempt to list the guest; about thirty five or more.  Mostly relatives but a few very special friends.  It was a rainbow of human variety with Chickasaw, Choctaw, Mexican, Black and White, tall, short, chubby, and skinny,old and young.  Two long table were covered with a bounty of food from smoke grilled brisket to cherry tomatoes.  A wide variety of soft drinks, punch, and tea.  Everyone filled their plates and ate and visited all around before all gathered around that beautiful cake.  Another singing of "Happy Birthday"  and pictures were taken.  I looked over to the door and saw my Policeman Friend, Art Trujillo, his daughter, and granddaughter come in.

Everyone had cake and punch and departures started.  Finally my family helped to clean up and pack up and we adjourned to our old home to visit and laugh until quite late.  Kevin, my son-in-law hooked up my one material birthday present: a monitor for my computer that is almost as large as a theater screen.  All went to their various beds but I had a little trouble sleeping all night.  The family was getting back together Saturday morning and, since I was awake, I fixed sausage and eggs for every one's breakfast.  Goodbye time always has to come and we told Cheri and Kevin 'Good Bye'.  Everyone parted for their various homes.

I got a very special gift in the Birthday Greetings on Face Book that I never would have expected. It made me very happy but I must tell you about it at another time.  I believe this must have been a cumulative celebration of all the birthdays I have ever had.  A huge Thank You to my children and another to the One who answered my prayers.