Dear Mom,
Happy Birthday! Dad told me that you got the card I sent. I hope it made you smile!
This year’s card took a long time to pick out. I stood in front of the Hallmark wall of cards under the category “Mother” for quite a while. There were funny ones…and serious ones…and religious ones…and even one that played a Phil Collins song. I almost bought that one. It reminded me of the time we went to the Genesis concert together two decades ago. I was 20 and you were just a little older than the age I am now! Do you remember that night? It was really fun and a special memory that I’ll never forget. Anyways, that’s why I almost bought you the musical card; but, it played You’ll Be In My Heart, which was a little too sappy.
There was another card that had a nice design and simple message: Happy Birthday – I Love You. I passed on that one too – it didn’t quite say enough. Then, I almost bought a religious-type card that said something about how special you are and that only God could have given me such a precious mother. Again I decided that it wasn’t quite right. The message was just too serious and made me cry.
So, that’s why you were probably surprised to get the card that opens into a 3-D paper flower arrangement! I wrote out all the words to the Happy Birthday Song on the little tag. I hope Dad sang it to you when he read you the card. His voice is better than mine anyway.
I’ll see you this weekend. XOXO,
Tracy
Hallmark enjoyed my company for an hour on Sunday, looking at every card they sell. Selecting the last birthday card that I might ever buy for my mom was more difficult that I imagined it would be. When you know the last day is closer than you’d like, even the smallest decisions seem monumental.
Every day needs to count…each and every one of them.
What will you do to make today count for you?
If you liked this post you may also like Love, Part 1 and The Gold Seal.
The Chameleon's Backbone 
Posted by Paul Wynn on February 9, 2011 at 3:35 am
Hey Tracy! You left a comment and it was in my spam folder… sorry it took so long to answer it. Hallmark cards have come a long way and now with special designs, music, and 3D its awesome how you can express how you feel to your love ones with the WOW effect as well. Hurts the pockets though, cards are pricey these days.
Posted by Tracy on February 9, 2011 at 8:54 pm
Thanks Paul. I checked out your post and appreciate the answer…just a little late on the draw LOL. Pricey is an understatement. The card I ended up buying was a whopping $8.99!
Posted by Diana Lynn Tibert on February 9, 2011 at 6:06 am
Small decisions seem monumental: I agree.
When I knew my father’s time was near, the birthday present I bought for him was an oil painting of a small boat on the calm sea. He always loved boats and fishing and had spent much of his life looking out over the harbour where he’d grown up.
By the time his last birthday rolled around, he was too ill to enjoy any of those simple pleasures. With that painting, I hoped he could continue to look out over the water — if only in oil — and imagine himself tossing out a line or trolling the shore.
Twenty-one years later, that picture still hangs in the same spot. When Mom passes on, it will return to me, so then I can look upon the same water as my father had the last two months before his death.
I can’t remember how long it took to actually choose that gift, but I knew the moment I saw it that it was what I wanted. So many gifts that I’d have chosen otherwise — fishing rods, lures, paint for the boat, trinkets for his truck — were passed over because he would not have been able to enjoy them.
In memory of Stephen Ellsworth Tibert (1922 – 1989). I have not yet met a man who has come close to being the man he was.
Posted by Tracy on February 9, 2011 at 9:07 pm
What a great story. It sounds like your dad was a wonderful man. May he rest in peace and bring many blessings to your family from above.
Posted by greenstuffwoven on February 9, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I do the same thing when looking for a card to purchase. They’re either sappy or corny or dumb. Most of my family members feel the same. We’ve begun taking cards for all occasions and crudely editing them to fit our needs. I do enjoy getting “Happy Flag Day” cards from Santa and “Deepest Serendipity” cards for the loss of a laundry day and the award of a junkin’ day with Mom and sisters.
Posted by Stacey on February 9, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Something about this comment to your post struck me as PERFECT. I hope this person doesn’t mind but I am stealing their idea about sending a different kind of card, the unexpected ones seem to have the most meaning sometimes.
It is weird that your post today was about your mom and her final days. I had a conversation with my mom this Saturday about how she wants to be buried. Although I feel she has MANY years ahead of her it struck a sad chord with me that this conversation was happening and that it was probably a good thing that it was. I don’t care how old yor mom is, the loss of her has to be one of the hardest things to live through. In my mind and heart, moms are the foundation of all things.
I wish your mom a peaceful birthday.
Posted by Tracy on February 9, 2011 at 9:12 pm
Great idea! I’ve never received a Flag Day card, but oohh will it be a special day when I do.
Posted by Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun on February 9, 2011 at 1:54 pm
What a sweet post. So true that cards never quite express it all to those we care about most. At least they usually know how much they mean to us. Thank goodness for that. 🙂
Posted by Tracy on February 9, 2011 at 9:14 pm
I throw away about 90% of the cards I get, but I do have a box of special cards that were worthy of keeping…forever. Thanks for stopping by Tina – lways so nice to see you here!
Posted by Andie on February 10, 2011 at 1:41 pm
What will I do to make today count for me? 1. Take responsibility and ask for forgiveness for my missteps. 2. Tell a friend that I love them.3. Pray
Posted by Tracy on February 10, 2011 at 7:18 pm
Good ones Andie!