Today is my mom’s birthday! And yes if you have been paying attention, our birthdays are in the same week. We are the 7-11 girls (of February that is).
I find there are numerous types of mother/daughter relationships. The relationship I have with my mom has always been very close, more of a friendship. I never knew her mother, but I’ve heard my mom say a few times – “I decided to do thing different because my mom did xyz.” One of those thing she did different was teach me about money and talk freely about relationship, careers, you name it. In fact I have a whole blog post on the best advice my mom has given me. What’s the best advice you’ve received from your mother?
When I was in college several of my friends told me, my mom was “cooler” than theirs. In fact I dated a guy for a minute who said my mom was cooler than me. Which is likely true, seeing as it’s midnight on a Thursday night and I’m home blogging while she’s Country Dancing with some friends. We talk daily. We are similar in some ways and opposites in others. She still doesn’t get what I do for a living other than “text” to people on the computer/phone. She is borderline OCD in how clean she is and well, I’m currently waiting on the dishes fairy to visit. She organized my sock drawer once when I was in college. I seem to have followed in her footsteps when I was speaking in conferences.
I know that my mom is “proud as a peacock” of me. She tells me, and her entire email list quite frequently. So I though today might be a good day to brag on her. For those of you who know her feel free to add on.
Fabulous things about my mother:
- She has more energy than any 5 year old.
- She eats right and exercises almost daily.
- She has not one, but two PhDs.
- She has written 3 books and is currently working on her 4th.
- She is a 15 year cancer survivor.
- She has studied many world religions.
- I’m pretty sure she doesn’t know the meaning of the word procrastination. If you don’t want to get something done immediately then don’t tell her. In her words she’s “not a suzy sit by the fire”.
- She loves music and dancing. It is not uncommon for her to start dancing if a good song comes on in a restaurant.
- She has read 70 bajillion books and consequently has a vast collection of sayings, wisdoms, quotes on every topic. Her friends call this little quips “Elexisisms”. She usually signs her emails with them.
And so I’ll leave you with one of my mom’s favorite sayings “Your good is rushing to you NOW!!”
My favorite Elexisism is one she told me the first time I met her at a Mexican restaurant across the street from our college dorm in Denton…She told me to “Be now.” She even wrote it on a post-it for me to put on my computer. It helped me then and it helps me now, but I don’t need the post-it anymore, it’s been ingrained in my subconscious! Happy Birthday, Elexis!!
Oh, I could write a book… about your mother AND your grandmother! So many of your mother’s clever Elexisisms were Elizabethisms first… in fact, I learned so many new vocabulary words at such a young age trying to figure out what Elizabeth was saying. (Who tells an eleven year old ‘no paraphenalia around the pool’?!) Your mother is my treasure – we have so many memories over our lifetimes together: good (even wonderful), bad and ugly – and we’ve made it through with senses of humor in tact. Elexis is the sister I never had and I love her deeply – in fact, I even loved her when I was a horrible migraine sufferer and she’d come check on me and bring her dog, Fonzie, along just so he could poop right beside my head (I think she was testing to see how sick I really was)! And, you’re so absolutely spot on with her proactive spirit – never a moment procrastinated. Whatever the issue, it is handled or assigned to be handled immediately! If you’re in a bad relationship, E will have you to the best divorce counsel and scheduled for your first date before you can get the license plate number of the truck that hit ya! I love her and the way she loves God and everyone around her. You’re very blessed to be the chosen one and the apple of her eye, Elysa. She loves you more than life!
Every single word is true. Elexis is an amazing and accomplished woman and I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone like her. She’s full of contagious energy and optimism. She loves life and is “THE SOCIAL BUTTERFLY” of this planet!
Luv u Elexis!
XOXOX
Love your other daughter,
Jules
This is the most fun thing of all..
I just am what i am.. i do notice i might be a tad different.. but when seen from everyone’s perspective i guess i am way out of the box.. they are out of the box thoughts to live by.. that dang box causes more troubles than it is worth.. i love you all.. and elysa you are tha applle of my eye.. you know that in ever fiber of your being surely…love you all