Monday Memories
Since this is my debut with a "Monday Memory", I will begin with my own debut.
I was born November 26, 1964. No one but my mother and my brother remembered my actual birthday this year. People remember it is around Thanksgiving, but after that, they forget.
I was born on Thanksgiving Day. According to my mom, she spent the day before browsing in the Dearborn Public Library on Michigan Avenue. (So, I became a librarian.) Later that evening, she told my dad during the Thanksgiving Eve. church service at St. Paul Lutheran that she didn't think she would be in church on Sunday. (I was baptized, confirmed, and married in that same church and remain a Lutheran to this day.)
I remember asking my mom if she was mad that she didn't get to have turkey that year. She told me that they brought some to her, but she was still groggy from the "gas" they used back then. My dad had hamburgers. The important thing to my Dad was that he, like Ford, had a new '64 1/2 model and she was a healthy baby girl. I was indoctrinated early that I was born the year of the Ford Mustang which preceded my birth by 7 months. (The Mustang debuted April 17, 1964).
My birthdays sometimes end up part of a Thankgiving celebration. I remembered turning six on Thanksgiving Day. It was the first time since I was born it was on Thanksgiving. We were in Ohio at my grandparent's home in the country and all of my cousins were there. No one felt sorry for me having a birthday lost to Thanksgiving because my cousin Lisa's birthday was on Christmas Day.
Because of the holiday, many of my birthdays were spent at my grandparent's in Ohio. One year, my uncle got married on the 25th and then I celebrated my birthday the next day. I remember playing with my new Barbie hairstyling head in front of the big color television in their new living room (addition).
Once in a while, I had school on my birthday. I remember when I turned 10, my mom let me open my gifts before school and I wore my new gemstone bracelet to school. My dad picked me up from school and took me to the Ten Eyck Tavern in the Dearborn Inn for lunch. (It wasn't really a tavern, but I do remember seeing my Pastor there having a beer and smoking a cigar!)
Some of my favorite gifts included a deep purple suede wallet my mom bought at Jacobsens, the best shop in town. I got it the year I turned 8 and the following March, it was especially appreciated when I "discovered" Donny Osmond and everything had to be purple! I also got my first pair of ice skates with the $8 check my Aunt Karen sent from Boston.
As I got older, my Christmas and Birthday presents sometimes blurred together. When I was a freshman in college, I got a burgundy velvet lined cello case in October for my birthday and then mom and I went bought my Christmas presents when I was home at Thanksgiving. I think she even let me have them to go back for finals week! They included a monogramed emerald green sweater and matching Gordon Tartan kilt.
The year I turned 21 was conveniently the last day of finals and my fiance and his brother took me to the local liquor store to "get carded". I bought pink champagne and they didn't ask to see my id. I didn't really drink anyway, so that was disappointing. I did get carded at the bar and the bouncer was a cute guy in my history education class. He already knew it was my birthday because we toured the state capital with our class earlier that day instead of having a final exam.
Five years ago, I had just started dating my husband. The first week we dated, we saw each other practically every day, so I was really surprised when he called to see if he could take me out to dinner on my birthday. It was a Monday night and he lived an hour and fifteen minutes away from me. The most memorable part of that evening was when I correctly guessed the names of the Original Six teams of the National Hockey League. I guess it was then and there he decided to marry me.
I've had a few birthdays and many more memories than I can possibly put into words.
Today, my brother gave me a very special birthday wish that I will always remember:
"Happy Birthday!!
I think the words of Mustang Monthly regarding the first 'Stang apply here:
'Even 40(2) years later, the cars are still practical, fun and cool to be seen in.'
Indeed, you are in fact still practical, fun and cool to be seen with.
John" (b. 1967, the year of the Mercury Cougar)
I was born November 26, 1964. No one but my mother and my brother remembered my actual birthday this year. People remember it is around Thanksgiving, but after that, they forget.
I was born on Thanksgiving Day. According to my mom, she spent the day before browsing in the Dearborn Public Library on Michigan Avenue. (So, I became a librarian.) Later that evening, she told my dad during the Thanksgiving Eve. church service at St. Paul Lutheran that she didn't think she would be in church on Sunday. (I was baptized, confirmed, and married in that same church and remain a Lutheran to this day.)
I remember asking my mom if she was mad that she didn't get to have turkey that year. She told me that they brought some to her, but she was still groggy from the "gas" they used back then. My dad had hamburgers. The important thing to my Dad was that he, like Ford, had a new '64 1/2 model and she was a healthy baby girl. I was indoctrinated early that I was born the year of the Ford Mustang which preceded my birth by 7 months. (The Mustang debuted April 17, 1964).
My birthdays sometimes end up part of a Thankgiving celebration. I remembered turning six on Thanksgiving Day. It was the first time since I was born it was on Thanksgiving. We were in Ohio at my grandparent's home in the country and all of my cousins were there. No one felt sorry for me having a birthday lost to Thanksgiving because my cousin Lisa's birthday was on Christmas Day.
Because of the holiday, many of my birthdays were spent at my grandparent's in Ohio. One year, my uncle got married on the 25th and then I celebrated my birthday the next day. I remember playing with my new Barbie hairstyling head in front of the big color television in their new living room (addition).
Once in a while, I had school on my birthday. I remember when I turned 10, my mom let me open my gifts before school and I wore my new gemstone bracelet to school. My dad picked me up from school and took me to the Ten Eyck Tavern in the Dearborn Inn for lunch. (It wasn't really a tavern, but I do remember seeing my Pastor there having a beer and smoking a cigar!)
Some of my favorite gifts included a deep purple suede wallet my mom bought at Jacobsens, the best shop in town. I got it the year I turned 8 and the following March, it was especially appreciated when I "discovered" Donny Osmond and everything had to be purple! I also got my first pair of ice skates with the $8 check my Aunt Karen sent from Boston.
As I got older, my Christmas and Birthday presents sometimes blurred together. When I was a freshman in college, I got a burgundy velvet lined cello case in October for my birthday and then mom and I went bought my Christmas presents when I was home at Thanksgiving. I think she even let me have them to go back for finals week! They included a monogramed emerald green sweater and matching Gordon Tartan kilt.
The year I turned 21 was conveniently the last day of finals and my fiance and his brother took me to the local liquor store to "get carded". I bought pink champagne and they didn't ask to see my id. I didn't really drink anyway, so that was disappointing. I did get carded at the bar and the bouncer was a cute guy in my history education class. He already knew it was my birthday because we toured the state capital with our class earlier that day instead of having a final exam.
Five years ago, I had just started dating my husband. The first week we dated, we saw each other practically every day, so I was really surprised when he called to see if he could take me out to dinner on my birthday. It was a Monday night and he lived an hour and fifteen minutes away from me. The most memorable part of that evening was when I correctly guessed the names of the Original Six teams of the National Hockey League. I guess it was then and there he decided to marry me.
I've had a few birthdays and many more memories than I can possibly put into words.
Today, my brother gave me a very special birthday wish that I will always remember:
"Happy Birthday!!
I think the words of Mustang Monthly regarding the first 'Stang apply here:
'Even 40(2) years later, the cars are still practical, fun and cool to be seen in.'
Indeed, you are in fact still practical, fun and cool to be seen with.
John" (b. 1967, the year of the Mercury Cougar)
posted by Susan at 7:48 PM
1 Comments:
A great story. I didn't realize your birthday and my kids are almost the same. So we really understand the problem.
As a meme, MM no longer has a hostess who keeps the blogroll, so we just have to find each other. I'll link back to you.
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