My Birthday Ode To My Mom On My Birthday

She was a young and vibrantly beautiful woman, two years short of her 40th birthday, and ready to pop with her fifth child. Almost as beautiful on the inside as out, she possessed an incredible strength that she still holds today, and she knew that she had to be prepared. It was early December, but the spirit of Christmas was already heavy in the hustle and bustle of the air. She had to be finished with her Christmas shopping because she would never disappoint her 4 other children. The toys were bought, wrapped and safely hidden from sight as she knew the time for baby could be at any moment. She even drove an hour away, enormous belly and all, to secure the coveted ski boots for her oldest. There was no Cyber Monday in those days-it was late in the 60's. Those who knew her best were not surprised. She was extremely capable and the birth of a child, for her, was no deterrent.

Soon she felt the child was ready and off she went to the hospital. It was 8 or 9 am when the baby girl arrived! She didn't remember much because of the anesthesia, but she remembered being ecstatic God had given her another girl. Two girls, she had first, then two sons, and this baby girl was a joy to behold! Back then, the gender of the child you carried was a mystery to be revealed only at the joyous moment. She went in with a few ideas of names. "What would we name her," she thought. And she remembered the lovely nurse who took such good care of her while in the hospital. The nurse was named Candace and she quickly decided it was a most beautiful choice. Baby Candace, was to her, the most wonderful Christmas gift of all. Her husband was born on the following day many years before, and they joked that the baby wanted to make her own entrance into the world. Candace would not wait, they laughed, she had to make it all her own. Oh, how they knew me even back then. 

Some forty something years later and she is still a beautiful and strong woman and still very much prepared for her children's Christmas. 16 grandchildren later, 2 of them from Candace, she still toils with the Christmas shopping for each and every one. The joy of child birth long past her, she has reveled in the wonder of the many births that her children experienced as if they were her own. She still possesses the ability to be the mother she has always been; Loving, caring, nurturing and strong. 

God, she always says gave her the gift of her 5 children; like her 5 fingers, she couldn't live without her fingers. But really we are the fortunate ones. God truly gave us the gift of her. So lucky, are we...

Go Shorty...It's Your Birthday!

It's the one day of the year that is yours and yours alone...so I guess it's my day!

It's "the day of larger than life". According to December 2 Birthday Astrology:


"The mysterious Sagittarius men and women born on December 2 are big on image. They are romantic and talented; their talents often relate to the arts. They sometimes use their talent to shelter themselves from the world. They seem strong but are vulnerable to emotional pressures. They seldom show their wounds, putting a positive spin on difficult events."

Sounds familiar.

Lucky are the ones I love:

"Few people display the loyalty and affection that December 2 men and women show. December 2 people love on an epic scale. They often fall in love unwisely, but there is no doubt of their sincerity. Learning to live with their romantic choices can be difficult, but these resilient people are up to the task."

Up to the task? I guess so considering I've loved and lost and loved and won.

Traits of this day..Dec 2 "Larger than life".

DYNAMIC
LUCID
HUMAN
TEMPERAMENTAL
JUDGMENTAL
MANIPULATIVE

Oh hey! Who threw in manipulative? But I can be influential. Or is it magical?

"Those born on December 2 are possessed of tremendous spirit. No matter how small their physical frame, they will exert an influence on their surroundings far beyond what one might expect on first meeting them. It is only when seen in action that they really shine. So magical is their effect that those involved with them may sometimes feel as if they’ve been hit with a bolo punch."

And now it's calling me out. OK, so you've got me here:

"The December 2 judgmental aspect is very expansive, for better or for worse. On the one hand, those born on this day are keen evaluators, true judges of honesty and integrity, but on the other hand they are capable of harboring grudges and taking their often furious tempers out on those who have transgressed."

As a gift to me here are some words to live by. Advice for those born on this day: 

Watch your temper.

Regardless of what people say, winning isn’t everything.

Real self-assurance will minimize your need to be appreciated.

Try to be less judgmental and condemning.

To improve, one must first acknowledge weaknesses and faults.

On the whole not a bad gig. I'd have to admit to the accuracy. Me and Brittney Spears, Lucy Lu-we are all born on this day. And I'll make my birthday wishes- because there is magic in your birthday wish-
World peace, honesty, integrity, my daughter home safe, health, success and protection for my family. 

That's not asking too much, is it?

Personality Test

Everyday I read my horoscope. Some day's it is dead on accurate, and some day's it's like they are talking about someone from another planet. Nevertheless, everyday I read my horoscope looking for some sort of psychic lead. So I have to wonder, if I, a reasonably intelligent woman, look to the teachings of the astrological sign I was born under for daily guidance, how accurate are Zodiac signs in predicting personality?

Using myself as an example, let's put it to the test. My sign is Sagittarius. A quick google check reveals:

"The symbols for Sagittarius are the hunter and the centaur, a mythical half-man, half-horse. This sign symbolizes the search for wisdom; this is the sign of the philosopher and the explorer. They have an appetite for learning and travel. "

Half-man, half-ass, so far-check. Since I posses a Master's Degree, I guess you could say I am interested in learning and my mother always teases me that I am the first to pack my bag and wait in line at the airport, so I would agree that this is accurate.

"They concentrate all their attention on whatever they are doing at the moment, and seem to see no other way but theirs until their effort is made. "

Focused and determined are traits I posses. I never give up. I beat that horse till it has died many deaths.

"They are often the great workers; such people never seem to tire until they drop with fatigue. They would rather learn on their own, through travel and experience, than endure structured classroom environments and routine work assignments. "

I always said the best way for me to learn Italian is to move there for a year or two. Really.

"High spirited and congenial, they are a gifted conversationalist, a wonderful storyteller, and a born entertainer. Nearly all of them are devoted to music. They often make brilliant musicians. It is also writing, publishing, TV, communications and enterprises where there are many representatives of this sign. "

I never had an aptitude for a musical instrument until later in life when my daughter did not want to take piano lessons. One day she cried when her teacher showed up. I was embarrassed, so I had the teacher give me the hour lesson, only to find that I enjoyed it. I became quite good. Who knew? I was the oldest person at that year's piano recital where I played "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin. My undergrad focus was communications and my Masters is in Journalism. I worked in television for the first seven years after college and loved every minute of it.

"The women born in this Sign are, as a rule, the nobler of the two; they love to make their husbands successful and will sacrifice everything to that end. They are usually great church-goers."

Noble?

Church goer?

They must be talking about that alien again..

"They venerate law and order and make the best of mothers. People born in this period, even when successful, should never cease to be actively employed inactivity for them would mean despondency and an early decay."

While I try my best, I will take the good mother thing for my own although Frick and Frack may beg to differ. I always thought I was too smart to be just a lady who lunched. I guess this validates that.

"Their most favorable stones are amethysts and sapphires"

Huh? I don't think I own any. All of my jewelry was stolen in Sept. 2005 when my home was robbed.

So just in case any of you want to get me a little something for my birthday......