The Second Baby…

Well folks, today is Mom’s birthday…and what a wonderful Mom she has been!  I”ve heard tale of back in the day (not saying how long ago) that the first baby of the new year received lots of goodies from the hospital.  Gifts for being their first baby in that hospital for the new year.  Symbolic of some sorts I am guessing.  But, you guessed it…Mom wasn’t the first baby, she was the second baby.  I’m sure once the baby is out, the parents don’t even think about the gifts they missed out on.  They don’t think about what if they had pushed harder…what if they had driven faster to get there (why is there not a video game centered around this event yet?  Talk about pressure!)…what if the baby had worked a little harder.  At least I hope not.  I know this isn’t the case with my Mom.  She was loved.  You know how I know that?  Because, I am loved immensely. 

Throughout my whole entire life (yeah, I know, not even 30 years of it yet), my Mom has been there for me.  Around this time of year, Vick’s Vapor Rub comes to mind.  I used to love the tender touch of Mom when I was sick rubbing the vapor rub on my upper chest to soothe my poor widdle head cold.  Or, sometimes on a fun summer day out of school, we would have mashed potatoes with chopped up ham and sliced cheese mixed in when warm.  You couldn’t do shredded cheese out of the bag, it just wasn’t the same.  The sliced melted perfectly, and Mom knew that.  Well, there was one exception to this treat…if I were sick to my tummy, I wasn’t allowed the ham…I could only have the cheese mixed in.  I remember countless times asking to have our “special” mashed potatoes.  Hmmmm…this sounds like a good lunch today!  There was always sight-seeing in different states.  We have been to around 30 or more states.  Maybe not around the whole of each state, but at least one place in each of those states.  We were and still are best buds.  My Mom was always the Mom that my friends would want to come see…the loving cool Mom. 

She allowed me to make the mistakes I needed to in order to grow, and she was always there to pick my broken heart up off the floor and apply some mommy glue.  Many times she told me I could do better.  Many times she told me you can’t quit a job til you have one.  Many times she told me to follow my dreams.  Many times she told me to always trust in God.  Many times…many many times…she has told me she loves me.  For a time, it was just me and Mom.  And, you know what?  We made it…we would go out to Arby’s and split a meal to save some money, we would have our own little celebrations at home, and we survived, as many single parents and children do.  Luckily, though, she did find a wonderful Step-Dad to join our family.  A very good man.

One time when we were by ourselves, Mom had mentioned candidly that she never had a “real” birthday because her birthday and Christmas were so close together.  Maybe, if she had been the first baby out a long time ago, she wouldn’t feel this way???  I’m just saying….and just kidding, ha.  So, since I was working at a grocery store at the time, I had access to a helium tank.  On top of that, we had a cathedral ceiling in our den.  My brilliant self, to celebrate her 40th birthday in the middle of the year, blew up 40 black balloons, stuffed them in trash bags to get them home, and then released them into the ceiling.  I think I may have put some extra magic in them because they seemed to be up there for days!  We have always referred to this day as her “Love Birthday”. 

There are countless memories of my Mom I could share…EasyBake Oven times, dress up times, doll factory visit times, meeting Michael Jackson at the U.S. Mint, cooking (of course), my wedding preparation, etc.  But, unfortunately, there isn’t enough storage space on WordPress…

In closing, treasure your Mom’s or ones that resemble a motherly presence in your life.  I know plenty of friends that don’t have their Mom’s around anymore, and would give anything to be held in their arms again.  It’s true, your Mom brought you into this world, and she can take you out of it…(no, Mom never told me this…I was never that bad (Shhhhh, Mom, don’t say anything about that comment.))  I was blessed, and I hope you have been as well.  Moms know what they are talking about, I promise.  One day, I can only hope to be a fraction of the wonderful Mom mine has been to me. 

I LOVE YOU, MOM!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Below you will see the recipe for the Zesty Lemon Pie I made for Mom’s birthday.  We normally have a Bishop Bread (recipe eventually), but Mom decided to mix it up this year.

Zesty Lemon Pie (so simple)

• 6 egg yolks
• 2 (14-oz.) cans sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup fresh lemon juice
• pre-made graham cracker crust

1. Whisk together egg yolks, sweetened condensed milk, and lemon juice. Pour into graham cracker crust.
2. Bake at 350° for 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack (about 1 hour). Cover and chill 4 hours.

There were many more instructions…making own whipped cream…making own graham cracker crust…but goodness, it’s nice to take short cuts.  So, crust = premade graham cracker crust, and the topping = Redi-Whip.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.