70

My mother turned 70 this past Wednesday.  Seventy.  70.  7-0?????  While it's still baffling her, it really killed me.  

I have a mother who is 70??? 

I have dealt with questions my whole life, people literally telling me with a chuckle... "you must have been a mistake, huh?"  Yah, that's the way to give a kid some great self esteem... just assume their parents never actually wanted them, and tell them that their existence is a "mistake."  I mean how exactly do you answer that?  I tell them no, (because that's what my mom told me to say.)  And then they chuckle and laugh, like "yah, right."  But alas, this blog post is not about me, it's about her and the fact that...

my mother is 70.   

My dad decided to throw her a SURPRISE party, with the agreement that he pick the place and pay for it, and I basically do everything else.  What a deal.  I loved every minute of planning.  Even answering all my dad's questions at odd times of the day in whispers because "your mother is in the other room."

Her first surprise came when my dad told her he was going outside to shovel snow, and then just left.  After the fact, I told my dad that wasn't very nice... but then again my dad has his own way of doing things.  He returned 4 hours later, with my brother Chris, who flew in from Colorado.  Apparently, first they made a stop at Gene and Judes.   I was told my mom nearly had a heart attack when he walked in.  

The party was a huge success and she seemed to be rather surprised to see 40 of her closest friends and family standing there.  We dined on bruschetta, salad, chicken piccata and sirloin, mostocolli, potatoes and mixed vegetables... followed by ice cream and her favorite cake from Hy-Vee.  It was delicious.  We even got a family picture.  It is rare to have this happen and have all my siblings in one place so it had to be done.  

I even made a fun picture board full of some nice ones, and some funny ones of my mom.  Camille was in charge of the centerpieces, and I made name tags and menus for each seat.  Along with a picture of my mom at each table in a different decade.  

I even wrote a toast for her... in case my dad didn't say something... which he did ... and left me relieved to not have to get up and say anything....

Hope you had a very Happy Birthday, Mom!!!

An Ode to My Mother

Roses are red violets are blue
We are all here to celebrate you.
70 years what can I say...
I know, I know you don't actually turn 70 till Wednesday.

The oldest of 6 the mother of 4
Busia and great busia to 8 more.
Sister, aunt, friend and pal
And of course you are sweetheart to al.

You are one in a million
You say what you want
You sometimes make no sense
But we love you lots and lots.

So sit back and relax and enjoy  family and  friends.  
Raise your glasses to my Mom
May the party never end!