Today is my mom’s birthday.

For the first time in 66 years, it was my grandfather who planned her special day.

I get choked up every time I think about it. I have a very distinct feeling it’s going to be one of those memories that will always cause my chest to tighten and the backs of my eyelids to sting.

“I’m going to take you out to lunch,” he called her up the day before to announce. “We’re going to Furr’s. And I’m inviting Faye Nell and Sue to go with us.”

He’s been under hospice care for over a month now and it’s been a time of adjustment for all of us as we’ve all faced in our own way and in our own time that COPD would soon rob us of all the many, many moments we’d come to take for granted over the years.

Ever the strong, capable, unflappable type, the loss of Mama perhaps dealt the cruelest blow to Dad. We’ve seen the love he shared with her evidenced in such unexpected ways since her death. It’s hard to believe it’s been just over six months now; the fact that Dad’s own health has deteriorated so vastly and so quickly is just as shocking.

And yet there are these moments lately when he says or does  or acts in such a way that makes that sliver of time almost stand still. It’s as though there is a poignancy in the air and it is so delicate – so precious – that to breathe too hard or even blink would be to miss it.

And oh, we don’t want to miss a moment right now.

The party of four – the birthday girl, her dad, and their two guests – kept the lunch date. Despite the oxygen that is continuously strapped to him, his lack of energy, and an ever-increasing tiredness that is taking over his body, he went the extra mile on this birthday.

He thought he was being quite the sneak, even though Mom knew what he was up to all along. So when the employees of Furr’s arrived at their table and began to sing “Happy Birthday” she acted surprised. I feel quite certain that singing birthday songs tableside is not standard operating procedure for the folks at Furr’s…but again – it’s almost like there is something irresistible about these moments surrounding Dad right now.

They all mean something.

They mean everything.

My mom has had some great birthdays in the past and I’m sure there are some amazing ones in her future.

But there is no doubt in my mind that it is this year’s birthday she’ll remember the most.