Happy Birthday Mom!

l-r: Jennifer, Mom, Me, Janice

Today, my Mon turned 73. The photo above was taken over 30 years ago when she was almost 40. She looks great and is a very active retiree - aerobics, volunteering to check other senior citizens blood pressure at the mall, shopping with her friends Mely and Cecil, going to parties and dances with my Dad.

I don't know what I'd have done, if I didn't have my Mom while growing up. We almost lost her when she had a heart attack at the age of 45. All I know is that without her, I wouldn't be able to play piano; I'd have crooked teeth (she paid for my braces); would have never known the joys of chicken casserole with uncooked noodles (she does cook a kick-butt Pinakbet, Afritada and back in the day she would make Ensaimada almost every weekend during the winter); and would have not have half the sense of humor that I have now.

From my Mom, I think my sisters and I all got her playful sense of humor (I think Jennifer got most of it.). In addition to describing her day at work at dinner - (detail descriptions of surgeries), she would often tell somewhat dirty jokes that she heard in the operating room. Janice and I got her shopping disease, especially for shoes and bags - but always at a good bargain. To this day, whenever I visit home, Mom shows me her latest bargain finds - often at a 75% discount. We also got her love for singing. Mind you, we're no Renee Fleming, but we like to belt out a tune. If you stand near her at church, you can definitely hear her singing.

Happy Birthday Mom - can't wait to see you this week!


Mom and Chloe.