The Dairy Queen ice cream cake (chocolate chip cookie dough)
was sliced and served up on hot pink plates.
Colorful Happy Birthday napkins were distributed.
Three times we sang as her fellow-residents wandered in...
Happy birthday to you;
Happy birthday to you;
Happy birthday, dear Elda;
Happy birthday to you.
Now and then a smile played at the corners of her lips.
Her eyes met mine. Silently. Quizzically.
Only the day before I'd finished reading Anne Lamott's Small Voices.
I'd copied these words from page 266 into my journal--
anticipating this hour;
determined to shine my best light on her...
"It is so lovely to celebrate the life of a person who is
still here,
a chance to shine our best light on her as she shone her
light on us,
before the light goes out."
Dementia is dimming her lights, but my love for her is brighter than ever!
Happy 89th birthday, Mother.
...
