“Wait a minute, wait a minute.. you started training in April and ran a 5k in May?!”
I nodded, beaming. It even astounded me.
There was no good reason for me to pick up running. I just decided that I wanted to do it. So I did.
I get that from my mom.
My mom was constantly discovering new amazing talents that surprised even her. One day, she got tired of spending good money on hair accessories for us. She just hated that they never quite matched, and LAWD, they were expensive. We didn’t always have that kind of money. But she wanted her girls to look like we did.
So she started making hairbows.
And she was GOOD at it. And not just good, but good enough that she started doing trade shows and church sales and made the rounds as “BowJangles”, and people LOVED her stuff. My personal fave was a bow she made out of comic strips. She was savvy enough to grab a dated comic strip (say, a birthday or an anniversary) and make a precious bow out of it. She was Etsy before Etsy was invented.
Then we got older and she decided that she wanted to stay involved in other ways through our lives. We were heavily involved in local theatre, and Mom didn’t sew or act or sing, so she sat out for a season or so until she found something she COULD do.
So she decided to be a graphic designer.
And she was GOOD at it. I mean, really good. She designed most of the posters for the shows we performed in, as well as the programs and often the tickets. She had an uncanny knack for unusual color combinations, and made stock clip art look hand-drawn and unique. She educated herself at home, through books and online courses, and now she’s in high demand for her artistry in graphic design.
My mother has this amazing skill for just deciding she wants to do something and becoming insanely proficient at it. Sure, this may apply itself in odd forms .. growing up, Zelda was a source of disdain because the tv was off-limits until Mom had solved the damn game .. but for the most part, it resulted in beautiful and ethereal creations that, to this day, I am grateful and amazed to have witnessed. And incredibly jealous that I cannot replicate.
But the zest for succeeding?
I get that from my mom.
Happy Birthday, Mommy Dearest. You are everything an Italian mother should be, with a dose of southern grace for good measure. Thank you for everything you’ve given me and my family. I hope this birthday is the best yet, but overshadowed by the ones to come. I love you.
(My mom reads this blog religiously. It would be AWESOME if everyone could visit here .. even from the feed reader .. and wish her a happy birthday in the comments. She would be ecstatic!)(Also, tell her how awesome her daughter is.)(No, ME, not the other daughter.)
Happy Birthday, Momma-AnvilTree! Your daughters are awesome!
Happy Birthday to you!! Hope you have a fabulous day:)
Dearest Leslie…. Happy Birthday! You are loved…Ra
Happy Birthday Sarah’s Mom!
Happy birthday, Mrs. Sarah’s Mom!!
Hope you have an awesome Birthday, Sarah’s Mom!!!
Happy Birthday, Mrs. Brown!!
Oh yeah, and your daughter is AWESOME.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!
Happy birthday Mom!! You are a great mom to all of us:) Hope you have a great one!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Happy Birthday!!! Hope it’s a happy one of many more to come!
AndreAnna´s last blog ..Confessions of an Imperfect Parent
Happy Birthday!!! I bet Sarah is your best work- she’s an amazing woman, a hard worker and a great Mom! Usually, the women behind this kind, kick ass.
Happy Birthday Sara’s Mom! You share a birthday with my sister!
Happy Birthday to Sarah’s momma!
Michelle Smiles´s last blog ..Fava Beans anyone?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I hope your day is just as amazing as you are. I’m in awe of your skills!
(my mom made us all stand aside while she solved Zelda, too. SO funny!)
bessie.viola´s last blog ..when you were littler
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Mrs. Brown! Good wishes for you on your special day!
Caroline Prince
……….I wouldn’t say Sarah is mom’s *best* work…….. cause, you know….
there’s ME.
Happiest of birthdays, Mrs. Brown! I’m not the least bit surprised that you are creative and wonderful, your daughters are all that and more! You have much to be proud of in your daughters, and I know they are busting out all over in pride at having you for a mom.
Have a great day!
Happy Birthday Sarah’s mom!!
I don’t know why I didn’t checked your blog sooner, maybe because you haven’t been posting as often as usual. So today I had to see if you posted about your weekend and found a birthday post for me. What a wonderful surprise!
I joked with Gaylen Saturday night that Jenni gets her talent from me, but really? She got it from her sister’s loving tutelage. Now THAT you got from me!
Thank you, friends of Sarah, for your birthday wishes. You have touched my heart!