Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Shaping Up For Mom's Big Birthday

     
(Mom with her favorite child)
During one of my brother's weekly visits, he asked our mom what she would like for her upcoming birthday. He was astounded when she replied, "Some small weights for working out." My brother reminded her they had a few sets in the exercise room of her building that she could use on her way to dinner. Mom said she didn't want to workout at that time, and would rather have her own weights to use at her convenience.

My brother knew the weights would end up collecting dust in the corner of her apartment, as her major form of exercise consisted of lifting her comb to her hair. His patience was wearing thin, "What difference does it make if you workout on your way to dinner, or any other time of day? You never perspire, and your breathing is exactly the same whether you're exercising or sleeping."

Needless to say, our mom accomplished the same task with twin soup cans. Seeing her now, it's hard to imagine she was once the reigning arm wrestling champion in our family. She managed to hold onto her title until her grandsons were in their teens.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, we celebrated our mom's birthday with a few close friends, and family. At the restaurant, I used a make-shift geriatric booster seat which consisted of one hundred table linens wrapped in sturdy plastic. This helped her maintain over-the-table eye contact at all times. Though the restaurant was louder than we expected, it was nice seeing everyone, especially our dear family friends that we don't see often enough. My brother even made a thoughtful toast, instead of his usual special occasion "roast."  

Afterward, my mom was very appreciative, and had no complaints. This made me a little concerned. Fortunately, it only took a few days until Mom was back to herself. I noticed it when she was unhappy about her temporary new caregiver. Since she was always within earshot, Mom couldn't say what was bothering her, so I asked her a series of "yes" or "no" questions. She replied "no" to everything. Then as soon as she stepped out she whispered, "She can't tell the difference between a pill and a pillow." How dare my mom's temporary caregiver have a hearing problem when my mom's hearing was perfectly fine. Suddenly, I knew she was going to be all right.

41 comments:

  1. Hi Julie - lovely photo of your brother and your mother .. yes the boys tend to be their favourites. Glad you had a happy celebratory birthday for your mother with family and friends. Love the thought of the geriatric booster seat ... are you going to patent it??!!

    I'm just glad to read your mother is going to be fine ... we need to hear more stories! Cheers Hilary

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  2. How wonderful to have a family celebration in honor of your mom. Moments to treasure...as I know you do.

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  3. I love your "mom posts." All of her exercise combing her hair has paid off. She looks lovely.

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  4. As long as we can complain we're all right lol.

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  5. lol should start selling that booster seat.

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  6. That grinning dude is your mom's favourite child? What the heck has he got that you haven't? I'm glad the new caregiver is temporary. Before she goes, your mom should ask her to fluff up her pills and swallow a pillow.

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  7. nice picture and sounds like a good birthday. Your mom sounds like a pip - and that is a compliment. I love these seniors with their side comments, etc. Glad you can enjoy her and share it with us. A belated happy birthday to your mother

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  8. Hilary - When I requested a geriatric booster seat, this was the closest thing the restaurant had to extra pillows. I'll let you know if my son thinks it's worth patenting! Ha ha! Thanks Hilary!

    Liza - I do treasure the moments I have with my mom! Thanks Liza!

    Arleen - It is amazing how she always looks like she's ready to jet off to the Oscars! Thanks Arleen!

    Delores - Complain, criticize or quip! You are absolutely right, Delores!

    Pat - I don't think it was the most comfortable, but it did the trick. Hey, it might be even more useful for cats!

    Gorilla - Slightly more facial hair?! I will give my mom your message if the poor woman hasn't fled the country by now!

    Joanne - She is a "pip" in every way! Thanks Joanne, and I'll pass along your good wishes when I see her today!

    Julie

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  9. Belated birthday wishes to mom, and a chuckle at the favorite child aside. My brother was the favorite, too. We teased him about being her sun.

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  10. Great photo of your mum and brother, pleased she had a wonderful birthday.

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  11. Your mom should be a leading character in a book.

    Hugs and chocolate!

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  12. Joanne - I love that you referred to your brother as your mom's "sun!" Thanks Joanne!

    Yvonne - We're glad too! Thanks Yvonne!

    Shelly - I would love to write a book about my mom, but I think these little snippets would work better as a sitcom. She would be perfect in a spin-off from Betty White's series! If only I knew how to pitch it. Any ideas? Thanks so much, Shelly!

    Julie

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  13. Your mom is a riot, as always.
    Did she get her weights?

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  14. Best birthday wishes to your Ma!

    Today happens to be my Pa's birthday. He's been in a much better place since 1996, but in his honor I'm playing some of his favorite singers, even as I type these words. Right now Roger Miller is singing 'Engine Engine #9' (just got done with 'Dang Me!') I already did the Nat King Cole and Louis Prima's next.

    >>... Afterward, my mom was very appreciative, and had no complaints. This made me a little concerned.

    Ha!-Ha! Thanks for the laugh, Gem Julie, and I second my first good birthday wish for yer Ma.

    ~ D-FensDogg
    'Loyal American Underground'

    POSTSCRIPT:
    Now Roger's singing 'You Can't Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd'. Pa used to wake me up for school by blasting this song loud in the house. And some people wonder why I'm so... "different".

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  15. You mom is a spunky gal! I am glad she is feeling better and what is it about sons? My brother (there are only the 2 of us) always got special treatment and once my mom told me to move so my brother could see the TV better (I didn't move). Your mom knows how to improvise with the soup cans:) I am glad her birthday went well

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  16. I think your mom and I have something in common. You can tell something is wrong if we're being too nice. :D

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  17. Alex - We thought she would like nicer gifts for her special birthday. Don't you have a big birthday coming up too? Thanks Alex!

    Stephen - I'm so sorry that you lost both of your parents. I'm sure your pa would get a
    kick out of you listening to his favorite songs! Whenever I go for a drive with my
    husband, I think of Roger Miller singing "King of the Road," as he only loses patience when he's behind the wheel! I will happily pass your good wishes along! Thanks Stephen!

    Birgit - "Spunky" is the perfect word to describe her! Love the story about your brother! I'm proud of you for not moving over! Thanks Birgit!

    Luanne - Ha, ha! Now I know why I like you so much! Thanks Luanne!

    Julie


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  18. What a lucky person you are to have a mom like that! I love her statement about the weight, and soup cans are just as good ;) Glad all is going well and that you guys enjoyed the birthday.

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  19. Love the picture and the booster seat made me laugh. It sounds like she had a nice birthday and you all had a lovely family get-together.

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  20. Tonja - You are absolutely right - we are very lucky to have our mom! She is a constant source of entertainment! Thanks Tonja!

    Connie - We always have the hardest time taking group photos! I also thought this
    was a cute photo of my mom and brother, though I wish it had been a lot clearer. The make-shift booster seat really came in handy! Thank you Connie!

    Julie

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  21. I think your mom wants weights so she'll be ready for the "Feats of Strength" contest during the Festivas celebrations.

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  22. HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY to your mom!

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  23. Julie, I've told you this before BUT, I love the stories about your mom. She's hilarious. Sounds like your brother's pretty funny, too. Loved that bit about how your mom's breathing never changes.

    I'm so glad she had a happy birthday;)

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  24. Al - Ah, the highlight of "Festivus" was the "Feats of Strength" contest! My mom would be an ideal contestant for the competition! Actually, you and Mom would get along pretty well, as he used to speak Navy Talk with my dad!

    Susanne - Thank you, and I will pass your good wishes along!

    Robin - Once my brother told me some of his best lines, I knew I had to build a story around it! He is very funny! And for the record, my mom really never perspires! Thank you, Robin!

    Julie

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  25. Your mum sounds a fun lady! Happy belated birthday to her!

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    1. Romance Reader - My mom has always been the life of the party! Thank you, Romance Reader!

      Julie

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  26. I always love the posts you write about your mother. (I think we all feel like we "know" her.) You know why she wanted those weights, don't ya? She's thinking about making a big comeback...to reclaim her title as the family's arm wrestling championship. HA! Love it.

    Happy weekend, kiddo.

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  27. You make me miss my mom with these posts about yours. I think the two of them would have hit off. Feisty and sharp.

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  28. Susan - I think you're on to something! Even if she doesn't regain her title, all it takes is just one look to let everyone know who's still in charge! Hope you're having a great day, Birthday Girl!

    Lee - Sounds like your mom was a wonderful woman. If she was anything like her daughter, they would've become fast friends! Sorry Lee, as it must be especially difficult for you over the holidays.

    Julie

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  29. I think she's going to be great! It's funny you say that about the hand weights--my husband just found mine under the bed. They've been under there for years...

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  30. That's a great picture. She looks really good. You can see that sharpness in her eyes, too, just waiting to release that wit.

    Do hand weights EVER get used? I feel like 2-3 lb hand weights are the item most likely to be found shoved under a bed and covered in dust.

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  31. Your brother has the family sense of humor -- weights to use on the way to dinner. That gave me a laugh. You also made me laugh when you worried something was wrong, because your mom didn't complain. The duo looks adorable in the photo.

    Love to you.

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  32. Stephanie - I always forget to use mine too, but like to know they're there just in case! Thanks Stephanie!

    B & B - My mom will absolutely LOVE your kind words! Good point about the hand weights. I think I'll add mine to my New Year's resolution! Thanks Brandon and Bryan!

    Robyn - Yes, my brother is very funny! My mom is a bit of a perfectionist, so I was very surprised when she only had good things to say! I also liked that photo. Would you believe we couldn't find one decent family photo of all of us? Thanks Robyn!

    Julie

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  33. Lol! Your mom is a "pill"! In the very best sense. :)

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  34. Lynda - My mom does have a lot of spirit! Thanks Lynda!

    Ava - I think she's more of a "pip" than a "pill," but it's like the song lyrics, "You say tomato, I say tomato!" Thanks Ava!

    Julie

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  35. I totally love her right now! So sweet!!

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  36. What a great picture of your mom and brother. A belated Happy Birthday to her!! And Happy Hanukkah to you and all your family, Julie.

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    1. Julie - I also like the photo of my mom and brother. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a good family picture, or even one of the three of us. My eyes were either too red, like one of your characters, or too patchy like a raccoon's! Thanks for all the good wishes! Merry Christmas, Julie!

      Julie

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