A Lazy Saturday For Mama's Birthday.

I just got up from one of the greatest naps of all time thanks to a fish plate and potato salad. It was a lazy day for me. I am probably the only person in the city that saw such a beautiful day outside today and still didn’t get up to do anything. Sometimes you just have to shut it down and recharge your batteries. I’ll get out and do something tomorrow to fulfill my good weather obligations. I did go out today and check out my week old garden. Children have a powerful influence because going outside last Sunday and planting seeds was definitely not on my agenda but I did it. I know nothing about gardening at all. I was online for an hour before I went outside just to make sure I had at least the basic instructions right. I have broccoli, tomatoes, corn, and sunflowers because they are pretty. I don’t really need to see any full vegetables because they will probably become food for all the hood wildlife like the possums and raccoons. If I just get a few leaves to come out of the ground it’s a win for me. I’ll keep you posted.

Today is my mom’s birthday. I actually had a chance to see her and tell her in person this year because she was here the last few days getting her New Orleans fix in. I think my family’s getting homesick. Usually for my mom’s birthday I try to come up with a poem or something nice like that because sometimes she reads this blog. My mom is not easily impressed and has only given me positive reviews for one of my tributes. Since I am being lazy anyway I might as well re-post the poem she liked. I’m using that old school Katrina survivor picture because her and my dad has lost so much weight she looks just like this now.

For all the times you had to come outside in your pink robe when I stayed out too long.

For the days we danced in the kitchen.

For giving me your eyes even though they don't open that wide like my daddy.

For the time I forgot my mouthpiece for the football game and you came on the sideline to bring me one.

For anytime you thought your kids were the best at anything even if everyone else thought differently.

For saying No and not caring what the rest of the mamas in the hood did.

For knowing how to cook the cabbage until it’s brown and sweet.

For knowing I like my gumbo with lots of File`.

For knowing that something is wrong with me even without me saying anything.

For every time I had a problem with a company or situation and thought to myself

“mama gonna handle this for me"... and you did

For showing me how a wife is supposed to be loyal.

For helping me keep it together to keep everybody else together after Katrina.

For teaching me to love Aretha Franklin.

For 1,275 plays of the Solomon Burke Soul Alive album.

For being willing to quit a job before you missed a school play or awards show for your kids.

For always fighting back.

For being protective and supportive.

For being my friend.

For having as much to do with the man I am as daddy does.

For being the first woman I ever fell in love with.

For already knowing that I cried when I wrote this.

For my number one fan…

Happy Birthday Mama.