March 4th, 1924.

[Javaman]

Is the day my mom was born.

She once had a brilliant mind. Knowing ALL the answers on Jeopardy, doing the Sunday Times crossword in pen with no mistakes, could recite the order of kings and queens (including their personal histories) of England, Germany and Russia without reference. Had amazing diction and grammar. Had an enormous vocabulary. She loved Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton and Fats Waller but adored Artie Shaw. She loved to lindy hop. She loved chocolate covered cherries. She was an amazing cook. She made these things of her own creation called Tomato pancakes. OMG they were so good! She had two brothers and a sister fight in WWII. (her sister was an Army nurse in France). She was a child of the depression. Her dad was a plumber and her mom, a homemaker. She was born late in life. She loved to laugh. She enjoyed Heni Youngman and the Three Stooges. She loved to sing and had a beautiful voice.

My mom, who is 86 today, has Alzheimer's. She doesn't know me from a stranger. She has no long or short term memory. She lives life in the moment (not bad, when you think about it). She worries no more.

But alas I miss her. My words to her are a fog in a wind storm at best.

My mom is gone but not gone. She's here but not here. She's in the present, but nothing more.

I miss her so much.

So I just have to put this out there because, saying it to my mom is the equivalent of talking in babble.

Happy Birthday, Mom. With all my love, your son.

[Eyerish]

1. How beautiful & touching Javaman...

Alzheimer's is an evil beast.
Happy Birthday Mama Java :hug:

[Call Me Wesley]

2. Happy Birthday to your mom!

May she have a great day in her world. Touching words, Javaman.