The following is something I wrote on February 2, 2014:
Happy Birthday to my mother today. She is ninety-two years old. Wow! Bruce and I went to see her last evening with a homemade lemon cake (her favourite) and birthday gifts in tow. What a wonderful visit! She was so pleased that we thought of her and that we visited and she LOVED the cake (a bonus!). We went last night because she and my sweetie share the same birthday. Bruce and I will be celebrating his birthday today.
For me my Mum’s birthday is not only a time of celebration, but a time when I find myself reflecting on what this special human being means to me. I owe my very existence to her. 
Here is this woman who took care of me, loved me, guided me to the best of her ability throughout my childhood, teen years, and into adulthood. And she is still there caring about me as I make my way through adult life, as I raised a family of my own, and now as I experience what it means to be a grandmother.
I love this woman with all my heart. I love everything about her: her generosity, her incredible joie de vivre; I don’t think that I have ever known anyone so incredibly positive. If there ever was a glass half full type person, she is it. I even love her sometimes critical nature. Yup. You heard me right. And to be honest, our life together has had its ups and downs. We survived. We grew. But you know what? I don’t just love the good parts; I love all of the parts. Everything that makes her what she is. Every last wart and every last flower. Hey, I am certainly flowers and warts. If I can accept them in me, I can certainly accept them in her. I mean, is anybody perfect? I love that she is part of me, and that I am her continuation. I am her and she is me. She is in every cell of my body. And I am so very, very glad. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Five years have passed. Bruce and I showed up at my Mum’s with birthday gifts and cake (now a tradition) to celebrate her ninety-seventh birthday. My mother. My gift. I love you Mum. To a very special human being, from the bottom of my heart:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Imprints We Make 
Oh I love this post so much. And I’m really grateful to you for sharing it because I would like to see more posts like this in the world. I feel we need to celebrate our parents and anyone else who has ever given us anything in our lives. I especially love the details of the lemon cake, it somehow brings your mom even more to life for me the reader. I also love that you love all the parts of her. This is how true love works. Happy belated birthday to your beautiful mom! And to your sweetie. :))
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Thank you for your very kind words. I love what you said about the lemon cake. It makes me smile. Thank you for that…and thank you for the belated birthday wishes to my mom. (and to my sweetie. lol). Have a wonderful day!!
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Love this, so positive 🙂
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Thank you. Have a great day!
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That’s wonderful !
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Thank you. Have an awesome evening!
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this is so beautiful! And Happy Birthday to your Mom and to Bruce as well…. wishing them many fond memories of the day (and you as well).
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Thank you for the compliment, Carol, and for the belated Birthday wishes.
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