Thanks Mom

Thanks Mom. It was thirty something years ago today at precisely 11:11 am that you popped out a 9 lbs 5oz baby girl. Me. Thankfully I have no memory of that.

But I do have memories of backyard birthday parties with Karol dressed as Minnie Mouse (the entertainment), angel food cake with vanilla frosting, a birthday spanking for each year of my life plus one for "good luck" and a "pinch to grow an inch" (guess all that pinching worked), waiting until after dinner to open presents (some families do it in the morning, you know), making a wish before blowing out the candles, re-blowing out the candles because we didn't get a picture on the first attempt, my 12th birthday when Eric gave me 12 sheets of binder paper (or maybe it was 14 on my 14th), the bronzed nickel from Kurt, when Steve and his buddies found a ball outside of Lakeside Presbyterian and brought it home for me (I don't even think that was my birthday but it certainly felt like it was), my 13th birthday when Dad declared I was officially a teenager in age and attitude, celebrating my 18th birthday at an Earth Day concert in Golden Gate Park, birthday brunches/luncheons at the Olympic Club and most recently our birthday trip to the zoo.

So, thanks Mom and Happy Birth Day.