Birthdays were always special in our house. The birthday celebrant would pick their favorite meal, and Mom would make their favorite cake from scratch. My favorite entree would change through the years, but my favorite cake was Chocolate Chip Chiffon. Mom would fold in egg whites to make it extra fluffy, and she would shave the bittersweet chocolate with the large grater. Even when I was in college, Mom would send that cake, baked in a loaf pan and sent in a shoe box, with a ziploc baggie of buttercream frosting and a plastic knife, along with the requisite number of pink candles-- and it always managed to arrive on March 5, right on time.This March 5, I was at work. One of my coworkers asked if my Mom remembered my birthday. "Nope," I said," I don't think that she will remember." Just then, my phone rang and the name "Nana" lit up the screen.
"Hi Mom. How are you?"
"Hi Nancy. I'm a bit confused. Are you coming over to take me to the doctors today?"
"Nope. Today is Saturday, March 5. Your appointment is on Monday March 7" (Yes, I thought I would see if the date of my birth would trigger a memory...)
"Oh, I get so confused sometimes."
"Yup."
"OK, see you tomorrow!"
"Monday, Mom-- two days from now."
"Oops. Heehee. I keep forgetting."
"See you Monday. Love you Mom."
"Oh, Honey. I love you too. I don't know what I would do without you."
And I don't know what I will do without her. Or her cake :).
