A Different Birthday Blog

I have a standing tradition of posting a blog on the birthday of each of my kids to celebrate their lives in a special way.  In the past,  I've included lots of pictures.  I have thousands of pictures from their childhood days, school events, and family times to draw from.  

Today I am faced with a dilemma.

It is unlike dilemma's I've faced in years past,  such as whether or not it's time to potty-train
or what time to set a curfew for teenagers. 

For the first time, this year,  I feel like it isn't appropriate anymore to post pictures of my angel-faced little boy at different stages of childhood.  BUT, at the same time, I also don't feel it's appropriate to brag about my grown-up son and how wonderful he is - not to mention how I just scrolled through my phone and don't have a single photo of Adam from the recent past.  

The funny thing is this:  I don't wish I could go back in time.  I don't wish that my son was still a teenager struggling to find himself.  I'm happy that Adam is a successful man who has a meaningful career, living in a city that he loves.  I love that he's happy with himself and his life.  I am proud of who he is and look forward to all the future has to offer him.

A wise person once said there are two important gifts a mother can give to her child.  The first is roots.  The second is wings.

  Check.
  Done.  
  Finito. 

Since this is a birthday blog,  I have one more thing to do before I'm done.

Adam,  I have known you and loved you longer than any 
other person on this earth - 27 years to be exact.  

I wish you the happiest of days, today and always!

(see you next weekend!)

Love,  

Mom

Happy National Siblings Day to My Sister, Lori!

I did not get my love of photography from my parents.  

On this National Siblings Day, 

I was hard pressed to find decent photos of

me and my sister, Lori, before the age of 20.

The ones that I show here are from our old 

"home movies"

that replaced real photos in our house at about the

same time that my sister was born.

Nonetheless, I was able to capture screen shots from these

grainy, blurry 8 mm film reels to create some of 

our history together as young children.

I am 4 years older than my sister, Lori.  We used to ride

the mechanical horse together when my mom took us to 

the laundromat .

This actual photo was taken the day of Lori's baptism.  

She was held by Aunt Connie as I looked on adoringly.

Here we are running down the sand dunes on Cape Cod.

Most likely on the same trip, we were splashed by a giant wave

on the beach with my mom.

This was Christmas morning with our snap-on curlers still in our hair.

I believe this was filmed when we were on our way back

from the camp store with ice cream treats.

Another beach picture - this time with my dad.

I still remember this bathing suit - but I don't remember what

those strategically placed emblems were on my patriotic

bathing suit!  Stars?  Mom, what were you thinking?

We were twins in our red Danskin shirts 

 in Florida that year.

I don't know who took this once-in-a-lifetime shot, but it was taken at 

the Canadian Open with my heart-throb - Jack Nicklaus -

and only half of me made it in the picture!

There have been many good pictures since then.

And I hope there will be many, many more!

On the National Siblings Day 2018,

I hope you know how important you are to me.

I hope you know I am always here for you.

I hope you know how much I love you!