Happy Anniversary!

Over 2 weeks ago, Mom took a spill.  On the steps.  In her white dress.  On her ankle.  In the temple.  In a hurry.  On Jeff's birthday.

Every year, going to the temple in honor of Jeff has been a priority.  Mom and Dad decided to go togetherthis year, during the day, away from crowds in the session and on the road. . . Now she wears a cumbersome walking book that can only be taken off once a week.  She has a borrowed wheel chair and a  hand- me-down shiny walker that fits only through prearranged wide openings of furniture.  She is mostly comfortable in Dad's 2 AM chair with a pillow under her knee.  The days go by slowly, except for a Dr. appointment last Friday that, upon arrival, she learned that it wasn't until Monday.  She also loves visitors.  Only 6 more weeks.

Last week was Mom and Dad's anniversary on September 13 (1951).  Things around their house had been so crazy that it wasn't until the next day that Dad remembered.  That only made him feel worse,  since he already blamed himself for the hurry at the temple.

Last Thursday I went out to fix Mom's hair..  That seems to brighten her day.  She feels and looks years younger again.  Dad made sandwiches and soup.  Then he disappeared.  In a few minutes, we heard him call Mom to take a picture.  (I thought he wanted a picture of them to send to a friend.)   She got up and carefully shuffled towards the table in the patio room.  She stepped in, and just like Cinderella at the ball, the room seemed to change as if they were the only ones there.  That's when she noticed the beautiful white frosted cake with mounds of pink frosting flowers.  It read," For My Love of 61 Years, Happy Anniversary". It sat perfectly in the center of the table.  She made a fuss.   He had set up a photo op with 2 chairs placed against the glass shelf in the corner  She convinced him to let her do her eye brows and put on some lipstick first.  He patiently waited.  When she came back, he led her to the setting of chairs.  Then he handed me his camera.  I was to be sure to get the inscription on the cake.  We also took photos of them together, and since it was their anniversary, we got some some of their sweet hands together.

Then, using Mom's stainless cake knife (the same one used for cutting their wedding cake 61 years ago), we ate cake.  It was perfect timing to hear their engagement story again.   And I felt privileged to be the reason to have a "party".

(Dad had had the cake for a few days, not wanting to overshadow  other birthday celebrations)