My mother’s 80th birthday was the 26th. I wasn’t able to be with her that day to celebrate it with her, but I am flying there tomorrow. I am going to spend the weekend there with her.
She doesn’t know I’m coming. I’ll be surprising her by driving up into her driveway, unannounced. I know she’ll be home. The rest of the family will be dropping by around the same time, and we’ll be having a surprise party for her.
I’m excited to be going to see her!
This past weekend I was happy to finally be able to burn the brush pile that I have been building for months. There has been a drought in the area, which resulted in a burning moratorium. We’ve had a few days of rain, and they lifted the moratorium, so I burned the pile.
I was truly in my element, out there, rake in hand, tending the fire. It burned high and quick. My wife was nervous about sparks setting the nearby woods on fire, or even our roof, but I had everything under control. She is such a worrier!
I was surprised, though, that the pile smoldered for four days afterwards! A little surprise rose out of this, on the third night, I let the dogs out about two o’clock in the morning. Within minutes, they started barking and growling. As I stepped out onto the deck to see what the matter was, I saw two large glowing eyes staring at me from the middle of the lawn. Upon further examination, I noticed that it was two hot spots from the pile of ashes and embers that was driving the dogs crazy. The next day I hosed the spot down and took care of it.
I cannot imagine my mother being 80 years old! She will always be that pretty woman in her 30’s who was always cooking my favorite foods while working full time and raising three rowdy children and keeping a rowdy husband in line.
I called her this morning to wish her a Happy Birthday! I couldn’t be with her physically today, but I am with her in spirit. I love her very much.
