Happy Birthday

Mama never seemed to be one to celebrate herself.  Birthday's were always a simple affair.  Unadorned Applesauce Spice Cake was her favorite, or a Blueberry Sourcream Pie perhaps.  Never gifts (at least not boughten ones) and never a song (just lots of hugs and kisses - more from her than to her).

Today she would have been 66.  She would have been retired for a year to Bandon, Or. (Her sweet spot on earth).  Her plan was to rent a VRBO there monthly and travel to see her family.  She planned to sell pretty much everything and do the VRBO because it comes furnished; she would be free to come and go, and would come back to a clean home every time she'd return from a stay away.
I miss her, terribly sometimes.  I know she wouldn't want me to wallow though, so I'm not.  Instead, Cassia is coming home tonight & we are doing a dinner that Mama would have loved:

Zesty Cod
Ginger Shrimp W/ Peas
Pear & Pine Nut Salad
Sesame Ginger Chickpea Cakes w/ Cucumber Salsa

We will not sing or have a foo-foo cake.  We'll play Farkle or Dominoes just like we would if she were sitting right here with us.  And we will give each other lots of hugs and kisses.

Happy Birthday, Mama.