Happy Birthday to My Mother

What do you loony Facebook folks call this--a status update? Well, here's one for you: the new column is available now online on the Observer-Reporter; I'm listening to The Weepies Little Bird; I just ate, easily, a third of a loaf of homemade bread. . .and,

most importantly, it's MY MOTHER'S BIRTHDAY! Those of you who know this woman who loves the ocean and travelling and her grandchildren and good, thick books and new words (poplollies), this woman who gets lost and bungles idioms and laughs the whole time, who uses words like 'pure magic' and gets away with it--please wish her many happy returns of her day! I've been approached by Melancholy a few times today, Mama, who wanted me to be sad that I'm so far away from you on this day, but I explained you were never good friends with him and I wouldn't invite him to stay for tea. I have good people to drink tea with me, my own small family here, and isn't that what you always taught us? To acknowledge sadness but stride on into joy. Be brave, Kimberly, and so I try to be. As I was watching Elspeth and Bea dance in the living room this evening, I thought of the many times you watched me dance when I was a little girl. I felt, in your gaze, the love of warm oceans, bottomless and stretching forever. Many happy returns, Mommy.