Friday, January 8, 2010

Happy Birthday Gail


Birthday Graphics

One snowy Sunday night you came into my life making me the happiest woman on the planet.  The next morning  the rising sun turned the mountains a glorious pink .  I thought they were becoming beautiful just for me. The lovely rose colored Rockies were a symbol of the happiness I felt. It was a magical time when I was blessed with a wonderful, beautiful baby girl.











You were always in a hurry; crawling with lightning speed, walking at nine months, and talking a blue streak in sentences.  No time for baby talk for you.

Then the toddler, Gail, became the very bright school girl excelling in everything she did. 
This is a picture of your first day of school.  I hope you will forgive me for telling the story behind the picture.





You were tall for your age and quite advanced.  Because your birthday fell in January I assumed that you were too young to start first grade and I enrolled you in kindergarten.   You were so excited to be starting school.  When you came home that afternoon I asked you how you liked school.  You replied emphatically, "It's just dumb.  All we did was color and play in the sand box.  I could do that at home.  I wanted to learn to read and write."   You started first grade the next day and I never regretted my decision to advance you.  You were always a jump ahead of me and still are.










With bewilderment  I watched you emerge from childhood into an accomplished teenager.  You were a successful scholar, accomplished musician, and a lovely young lady.  I never knew where your talents came from, but was so proud of them.  (Mother's are entitled to brag.)






The school girl grew into the wonderful woman you have become.  Still very bright and caring, you continue to make me proud.  You are my blessing.



And now you are a mother of teenagers yourself.  You are my daughter and my best friend.

Love,
Mom 


19 comments:

Paula said...

What a lovely tribute to your daughter. She's a lucky gal!

Hattie said...

Wonderful. My daughters won't let me blog about them, but I know just how you feel.

20th Century Woman said...

What wonderful blessings you are to each other.

Kay Dennison said...

I understand!!!!! I'm proud of my daughter, too! What a lovely post and I'm sure she appreciates it!

kenju said...

I could write posts like this about each of my two daughters. Happy Birthday, Gail! (I hope she will be reading your post, Darlene.)

Betty said...

Very nice tribute. Happy birthday to your lovely daughter.

One Woman's Journey - a journal being written from Woodhaven - her cottage in the woods. said...

Happy Birthday Gail.
Darlene, thank you for sharing.
Blessings to you this early evening. Take care!!!

Joy Des Jardins said...

Oh....yes, mothers ARE entitled to brag....and you have much to brag about Darlene. What a beautiful daughter Gail is....in every way. I love these pictures....every one of them. When you look back through your child's life, their accomplishments, and the person that they have grow to be....you truly become aware how blessed you are. Happy Birthday to your sweet Gail...and my fellow Capricornian (my birthday is next week)...and congratulations to her wonderful mom too; who had no small part in shaping and nurturing this beautiful life. Love, Joy

Ugich Konitari said...

Darlene,

Wonderful women have wonderful daughters. Please wish Gail a very happy birthday on my behalf...what a great birthday post ....

(Thinking aloud : Is she in Northern California ? next time I win the lottery and travel that side, I'll let you know in advance, and then you, Gail, and I can have lunch in Union Square ! And I hope you can fly there non stop from Tucson) :-)

Darlene said...

*Paula - Thank you !!

*Hattie - I didn't ask Gail if I could blog about her. She probably would have said 'no', but I know family members would like to read my post so I barged ahead.

*20th Century Woman - I know Gail is a blessing to me and I hope I am to her. Thank you.

*Kay Dennison - Daughters are so special, aren't they?

*Kenju - I hope she reads it, too. I think she does read my blog, but doesn't comment. You are fortunate to have two lovely daughters. (I do, too)

*Betty - I am sure Gail will read your Happy Birthday wish.

*One Woman's Journey - On behalf of Gail, thank you.

*Joy - Thank you for such a sweet comment. Happy Birthday in advance.

*Ugich Konitari - Yes, Gail lives in Livermore; close to San Francisco. That sounds like a wonderful idea; lunch in Union Square. It's a date.

*

Anonymous said...

Darlene--Please extend one more (belated) wish to your daughter for me! In my view, and from my experience, all daughters are perfect. They are wonderful!
Cop Car

Rain Trueax said...

How beautiful, both your daughter and the relationship the two of you have.

Friko said...

happy birthday to Gail
and
congratulations to a very proud mum. May the two of you always remain the best of friends and if your daughter becomes even half as feisty and determined as her old lady, she'll do well!

Darlene said...

*Cop Car - On behalf of Gail I thank you for the happy birthday wishes.

Of course all daughters are perfect; look at the mother's they came from. ;-)

*Rain - You always say the nicest things.

*Friko - Thank you. Me feisty? Perish the thought. :-)

Beverly said...

sweet pictures of your daughter.... :)

Darlene said...

*Beverly - Thank you.

Lydia said...

Oh, this reminds me so much of things my mother would say to or write about me. I'd have had to put the reins on her if blogs had been around when she was on the earth!

Really sweet post and I enjoyed the pictures.

Lydia said...

p.s. Gail's birthday is one day before mine! ;)

Darlene said...

*Lydia - I am sure your mother would have been right in saying those things. I know that you and your mother were close. It's a wonderful relationship, isn't it?

Happy Belated birthday, Lydia. May you have many more.