Happy Birthday, Mom!

I suck. Today is my mom's birthday, and I did not send her a card. I'm going to call her, of course, but she won't have a card to open. Damn. I've been trying to be better about remembering to do that kind of stuff early. I hate living so far away sometimes. I have known her birthday was coming up for a long time. I've even discussed possible gift options with J. We just kept putting it off, though, because this day seemed so far away.

Well, here it is, and I'm the worst daughter ever.

In an effort to make up for my lack of preparation, I'm going to include a list of 58 things I like most about my mom. (Anyone want to guess why 58?)

1. She loves me.

2. She loves J.

3. She is interested in my boring school stories even when nobody else is.

4. She thinks I'm funny.

5. She gives great hugs.

6. She loves my sisters.

7. She can't remember the punchline to a single joke. You can tell her the same jokes over and over, and she's like a brand new audience. Every single time.

8. She helped plan and pay for my wedding.

9. She always wanted us to bring our friends over when we were younger.

10. She once bought 12 boxes of corn flakes so my sisters and I could get free "Duck Tales" bags.

11. She cleaned the litter boxes last time she came to my house.

12. She loves to surprise people.

13. She will still help do my laundry when she visits here, or I visit there.

14. She used to let us use a "You are Special Today" plate on our birthdays.

15. She is generous.

16. She once asked for a "litter box" instead of a "little box" in a restaurant.

17. She has a great sense of humor.

18. She gives great advice.

19. I look just like her. Just fatter.

20. She taught me to play cribbage.

21. She is the kindest person I know. If you need something and she's able to give it to you, she does it.

22. She is sympathetic.

23. She loves to laugh.

24. She loves cats.

25. She called my friend and arranged to surprise me with a visit on my birthday one year.
When we arrived at the play we were going to, my mom was standing on the sidewalk in front of the theater.

26. She taught me how to be a nice person.

27. She loves me.

28. She loves J.

29. She loves my sisters.

30. She loves to spend time with me and my sisters.

31. She is programmed to tell stories three times. Once for each of us. Unfortunately she doesn't always tell each daughter - one of us usually gets the same story twice and one gets left out.

32. She will talk to anyone. Even the clerk at the grocery store.

33. She taught me to share.

34. She is proud of me.

35. Education is important to her. She went back to college when I did. She graduated a month after me.

36. She likes to have fun.

37. After the divorce from my dad, she took care of us by herself while working and going to school full time.

38. She is predictable.

39. She gives great medical advice.

40. She is brave.

41. She gets a kick out of e-mail jokes. She prints them out to share with people.

42. I get my gift of gab from her.

43. She's always ready for an adventure.

44. She has learned how to use the computer. She knows just enough to be dangerous.

45. She considers everyone family. When J and I are visiting her, we like to be able to see J's sister C, too. She goes to school in Seattle. My mom has extended an open invitation for C to come over whenever, even if J and I aren't there.

46. She's creative.

47. She will stay up late and watch stupid television with me.

48. She wants me and J to live closer to her so she can see us more often.

49. She loves me.

50. She loves J.

51. She loves my sisters.

52. She listens to me vent my frustrations.

53. She is one of my best friends. I can tell her anything.

54. She is not judgmental.

55. She is protective of me and my sisters still.

56. She stopped giving me haircuts.

57. She's funny.

And reason number 58: She's my mom and I love her.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!