Make Every Day a Celebration!

When visiting Mom at her memory care center, I sometimes see birthday celebrations. I watch the residents’ eyes light up with joy when a candlelit cake is set before them. They may not know their own names or where they are, but they recognize that something special is happening. They instinctively try to blow out the candles. They marvel at the balloons. They clap their hands to the sound of the “Happy Birthday” song. They know it is a celebration.

So I wonder, why limit Mom’s birthday to once a year? She isn’t going to remember if she had a birthday last week or last year. I should let every visit be a celebration of some sort. It doesn’t even have to be a birthday theme every time. I could easily bring a scoop of her favorite butter pecan ice cream, a chocolate cupcake, silly hats and beads, decorated balloons or a cuddly stuffed animal. If it lights up her eyes and brings her even a moment or two of joy, then why not let every day I visit be a celebration of life?

Happy birthday, Mom!