birthday wishes from my son

Every year I ask my son for the same gift; a personal, handwritten and illustrated card (he is artistic, and could always draw well).  This year he delivers.  He arrives home from school late last night, and today hands me my birthday letter.

Dear Mom,

I hope that your birthday is everything that you want it to be because you deserve it.  I am so lucky (but sometimes unlucky) to have a mom that is as involved with my life and cares about me as much as you do.  I have learned so much about life from you over the years.  You have (tried to and sometimes successfully) taught me how to be organized and manage my time well, you taught me how to properly treat a lady, and most importantly, you taught me that, if I am ever a middle-aged woman needing to lose 30 pounds, I can do so in a pretty short time by simply joining Weight Watchers.  I have so much fun spending time with you and I love that we share common interests in television shows, movies, and sushi.  I love borrowing your BAFTA movies and showing them to frien…eh, I mean, watching movies with you and talking with you about them afterwards.  I also really enjoy watching “Homeland” with you and speculating about what will happen to Carrie next.  Now that we are done with Season 2 of “Homeland,” I am hoping that we start watching “Homeland in Kabul.”  I’ve heard that John Smith is one of the most convincing antagonists yet.  I hope that you have a great 61st birthday and I am so happy to be home to celebrate it with you!

Love,

Alexander

When I correct Alexander about my age, he says, “See you look so young I thought you were only 61.”  Ha-ha.

Alexander also illustrates my birthday letter.

My favorite are the two drawings of an absurdly skinny me.

Under the banner, Lucky Me!, I’m saying, “I found some opportunities you might be interested in doing this summer.”

Under the banner Unlucky Me!, I’m saying, “I created a fake AIM account and then interrogated you to see if you would talk to strangers! “  (Okay, that I did when Alexander was about 12).

I love the way Alexander makes me laugh.  He is my most cherished gift.