March 9th

Today is my mother-in-law’s birthday. She would have been 90.

Flo looked forward to birthdays more than anyone else I’ve ever known. And not just her birthday. She loved to celebrate everyone’s special day with the joy that a birthday brings. Flo loved to throw a good birthday pah-ty (there was no “r” in Flo’s party). And she did it with panache. Last March 9th, Flo began to plan her 90th birthday party. We knew this one was big. Special. And it was going to be all-out.

She wouldn’t make it to 90. She died 7 months and 1 day ago.

Today, I know Flo is blowing up balloons and tying them with her nimble fingers. I know she is baking cakes… plural, for everyone she knows will be there. I know she is putting on her favorite outfit and jewelry, and curling her hair with her antique curling iron. I know she is smiling and laughing and waiting for the little gifts. Flo loved to open gifts. She spent many minutes on each card, reading each word aloud. This was her favorite birthday ritual. Reading the cards. Then she would gingerly untie, unwrap, open, peek, pull back the tissue paper, and be gleefully surprised. It didn’t matter if the gift was a tiny rock that one of the great-grandchildren had painted or an exquisite sweater… she loved the tradition of the surprise.

Flo loved the color yellow. Many lovely shades of yellow would make a yellow rainbow on her birthday… cake frosting, candles, balloons, wrapping paper, ribbons and flowers.

I know I will see a yellow balloon today. And I will know with all certainty that Flo placed it there. She has been dancing around for a couple of days now. You know, preparing for her special day. I can feel her. Everywhere.

I love you, Mom! HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY!

About Audrey

Audrey McClelland has been a digital influencer since 2005. She’s a mom of 5 and shares tips on her three favorite things: parenting, fashion and beauty. She’s also a Contemporary Romance Author.

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19 Comments

  1. 3.9.09
    Nancy B. said:

    I’ll be sure to raise a glass to Flo today! What a beautiful post in her honor.

  2. 3.9.09
    Barry (the husband) said:

    That was beautiful, Honey. Happy Birthday Mom, I love you and miss you more than you can imagine.

  3. 3.9.09
    admin said:

    This is Sharon again! I went out this morning on a couple of errands, and with minutes, on a route I rarely take, there was a BIG BEAUTIFUL DANCING YELLOW BALLOON waving at me from a little fence… I smiled a great big BIRTHDAY smile for Flo! And her day has just begun!

  4. 3.9.09
    Erin said:

    I always love your posts about Flo because she sounded like such a special lady. I love the color yellow, too. It was one of my wedding colors–it’s so bright and cheerful!

  5. 3.9.09
    Jane said:

    Nana is definitely up there taking over the kitchen for her birthday! She was NEVER one to relax and let others do thing for her, even on her own birthday! I never thought Nana wouldn’t make it to her 90th birthday. She was invincible to me. But we are still going to celebrate it for her… and know she is still with us each and every day.

  6. 3.9.09
    Adam said:

    I can see her now making herself a cup of tea and whipping up something tasty in her kitchen on Cedarwood Drive. Her legacy is that all who knew her and loved her smile when they think of her. What more could you ask for. That is a life well lived. Love you Nana. 🙂

  7. 3.9.09
    Lisa said:

    What a lovely tribute to your MIL. She sounds wonderful! I have a wonderful MIL too- she lives right down the street from us. When she initiaaly moved Los Angeles to where we are now, I was nervous and anxious and apprehensive about having her close by. It took us a little while to hammer out the boundaries of our relationship but now, we are closer than ever. She teases my husband (her son) thst she loves me more than him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. 3.9.09

    Happy birthday Flo! I am so happy to see the update that you already saw her yellow dancing balloon. What a special day, and awesome post!

    `Ari

  9. 3.9.09
    Karen said:

    Flo would have loved last night’s dinner. Nine great grandchildren, five grandchildren, and two sons (plus more loved ones) would have made her so happy. I’ll look for a yellow balloon today :>

  10. 3.9.09

    This is a beautiful post, Mom. I remember last birthday… Nana’s 89th… I made her a scrapbook of our life together. Do you remember? I spent hours and hours making that scrapbook for her. I wanted her to know just how much I loved her and appreciated her in my life. I had forgotten about that scrapbook until reading this post. Thank you for making me think of this… I know what I am going to read tonight. I know how much she wanted her 90th birthday… and even though it’s raining here today – I love knowing that regardless of rain or shine, Nana would have made this DAY incredible! Here’s to a yellow balloon today… ! xoxo Audrey

  11. 3.9.09
    Connie said:

    Happy Birthday, Flo! I’ll bet you never imagined that your love of family, love of life, and passion would reach out so far into the greater world.

    With my supper tonight, I’m having a piece of cheese (yellow) in honor of you. And I don’t care if it binds.

    Barry and Sharon’s friend, Connie

  12. 3.9.09

    Such a beautiful tribute. Flo was very lucky to have you as her daughter-in-law.

  13. 3.9.09
    Keith said:

    Very fitting Sharon. We had a great time celebrating her last night with everyone.

  14. 3.9.09
    Rick said:

    I miss you Mom.

  15. 3.11.09

    Flo is around and with you all the time. What a wonderful tribute and you were an exceptional daughter-in-law. Every time I see a yellow balloon I will make it a point to say hi to Flo.

  16. 3.12.09
    Melany said:

    I am sure she had a huge birthday party up in heaven 🙂

  17. 3.13.09
    Poppy said:

    Aw! :}

  18. 3.22.09
    Chrissy said:

    Sharon, I’m still reading back posts here and there as I get myself fully up to speed on, well, everything in the weeks following my vacation and the extra craziness that came after it.

    But this post was really special to me not only because I know how much Flo means to you, but because it reminds me so much of the people my family has lost and all of the memories we share. And I couldn’t help but cry with both a touch of sadness and a whole lot of joy when I read that you had seen the yellow balloon, just as I was so sure you would.

  19. 3.26.09
    Luci said:

    Sharon, sometimes I can hardly finish reading your posts, especially about Flo, because of the tears in my eyes! She sounds like such a fun, wonderful person.

    As are you!

    All the people in your family/friends circle are
    surely very lucky to have you in their lives.

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