A Special Birthday Bouquet

Today's a special day for one

Who has stuck with me through the years;

There has been some laughter

And there have been some tears.

In many ways we're opposites,

In others we're the same,

She even puts up with my jokes

Though the humor is kind of lame.

She's smart and good with people

Which she likes to be around

While I tend to keep to myself,

Hide and not be found.

She loves her kids and grandchildren

And prays for God to bless

Them in every way

And hopes for their success.

She likes to cook and bake and such

And does it very well;

She makes my favorites often

As by my waistline you can tell.

She's still young at heart and keeps herself

Attractive just for me;

I'm proud of her for being

All that she can be.

Today she's turning ______,

I'll be nice and leave that out,

But, if you have the chance,

Give her a birthday shout.

A Birthday

Today is my Mother's birthday,
She just turned eighty-one,
And so I thought I'd do a post
About her just for fun.

She keeps her house all neat and clean
And worries about her yard
If it doesn't look just perfect
She takes it kind of hard.

Whenever we come visit
There'll always be a place
Set aside, just for us,
To escape from the rat race.

I know it's hard to be alone
As she is day by day
And I can't seem to find the time
To often get her way,

But, when I do she welcomes me
Just like she always did
With hot meals and a restful place
Like when I was a kid.

She gets around quite well for one
Who has lived her many years
And thinking that she might not could
Is one of her only fears.

She cooks enough to feed a host
Each time that I am there
And I eat more than I should
As if it was a dare.

Tonight's my turn to take her out,
A dinner on the town.
When I asked her if she'd eat a steak
She said, "I won't turn it down!"

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my father's 77th birthday.

Dad grew up in Southwestern Oklahoma during the Dustbowl and Depression on a dryland farm in a family of 7 kids. After the untimely death of his father in 1943, those 7 kids were raised by their mother.

Dad became an expert shot with a rifle as he was growing up. Wild game was an important part of their diet and often the only meat on the table. My uncle once told of watching my father run along behind a covey of quail that was running down a fence line. As he ran, he would shoot the last bird in the line with a single-shot .22 rifle. He shot nearly the entire covey before stopping. His comment was that ammunition was scarce and every shot had to count.

Of the 7 kids, all but 2 received a college education. They did so through their own perseverance and initiative. Five of them, including my father, pursued careers in education. At one point in my own education I was required to interview my father about why he chose the career that he did. His response was that in Southwestern Oklahoma during his early years, teaching was one of the most respected and secure careers. I suspect that it was his calling because many times through the years I have heard people comment about how my father made a positive influence in their life through his role as an educator/school administrator.

Dad always made time for us as we were growing up -- and still does today. He played catch, took us hunting, fishing and camping. He taught us to work. And he does the same for his grandchildren now. He always made time to attend anything that we participated in -- and does the same for his grandchildren.

He and my mother have been married over 50 years and have lived in the same town all of that time. They will be moving in the next few weeks to the town in which I live. My mother has never lived anywhere else. They want to be close to their kids and grandkids.

Happy Birthday Dad!