happy birthday, mom

we just got back from taking my mom out to dinner for the occasion of her birthday.

you'd have to know my mom. she is only 66 years old but has issues with driving at night (always has) and going beyond her safety zone of home and work makes it even more difficult to get together with her. tonight, here, i simply want to wish her a happy birthday.

i bought her a black & white card that had an abandoned train car on the front with graffiti that said "women are beautiful, strong, brave." that is how i think of her, she's always been a beauty to me, always strong, always brave. she has always worked very hard for the five of us in not such wonderful circumstances; for everything that has not been optimal, she has always shown us strength and integrity. i wish things could be different with our relationship, but don't even want to focus on the way i want things to be any more; i simply accept them for what they are, and that's okay, too.

i also gave her a pen and ink drawing that had an amazing verse on it which will sit on a verdigris easel. very cool. the store bought it from is an awesome gallery of artesans and framing shop, so it all works together with taking her to a great southwestern-fare restaurant for dinner. she loved it.

happy 66th birthday, sierra madre. i love you.

you are my mom.