I Miss You, Roomie.

Patent leather shoes. Birthdays. I Miss You, Roomie.

Mother playing a guitar, while her two daughters sing a carol

Do you remember when it was a big deal if your birthday was near Christmas?

My college roommate, Roomie, was born December 6, 1946, nearly a year before I was born, though we were in the same class.

Her parents promised her that they bought her a separate set of gifts for her birthday and Christmas. They did not buy whatever they were going to get and separate them into two piles of gifts for the two holidays, only weeks apart.

She never entirely believed them and insisted on celebrating her birthday in the midst of preparations for Christmas.

I’ve known families in which December birthdays were celebrated on the half-year in the summer, so there would be no confusion.

Holiday Birthdays

My mother, when she was three, asked why there were no fireworks on her birthday in April, once the Fourth of July fireworks were explained to her as a celebration of the country’s birthday.

I have a friend, whose name, Carol, was chosen because she was born on Christmas Day.

She always delighted in all the decorations, music, celebrations and holiday spirit that surrounded her birthday.

Memories

Roomie was lost to breast cancer in her 40s, leaving behind three young children.

I always think of her on her birthday.

I miss you, Roomie.

Do your children or grandchildren have birthdays near the Christmas holidays?

Near other holidays?

How did you or do their families make them feel special?

Do you celebrate on the day?

Our blog posts are designed to act as memory prompts for you to tell your grandchildren the stories that are important to you. Click here to get these posts in your Reader.

To you and celebrating the milestones of life with your grandchildren.

Carol Covin, “Granny-Guru”

Author, “Who Gets to Name Grandma? The Wisdom of Mothers and Grandmothers”

http://newgrandmas.com

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