Dear Readers,
Tomorrow is my birthday and it’s always a special day. But there are some birthdays that are more special than others and memories of my 9th birthday are vividly etched on my brain.
I was a fourth-grader in Sister M. Teresita’s class at St. Therese Grade School and the anticipation of my birthday dinner celebration was uppermost in my thoughts that entire day. School dismissal was at 2:30 P.M. but because I helped the teacher after class every afternoon, my walk home began at 3:30 P.M.
It was a beautiful early autumn afternoon with clear blue sky and just a hint of fall’s coolness in the air. It was just about perfect! Thoughts of my birthday dinner and presents propelled me home swiftly. That year I had requested a birthstone ring of sapphire. At nine years old, surely I was old enough for an adult piece of jewelry.
Mom had prepared a delicious feast. As a birthday treat, we were allowed to pick the menu and I had chosen fried pork chops, baked macaroni and cheese, green beans and waldorf salad with oodles of red grapes and apples. Dessert was a homemade, white, two layer cake decorated with white icing and adorned with deep pink roses. Mom piped “Happy Birthday, Mary” on top.
I could smell dinner cooking as soon as I walked through the door. My Great Aunt Alma was an invited guest. We enjoyed the festive meal in our small kitchen and then Dad turned off the light as Mom lit the nine candles. Everyone sang “Happy Birthday” and I happily blew out the candles. After eating cake, it was time to open the presents. My great aunt gave me a card with two dollars tucked inside. Then my parents brought out the small ring box. I carefully unwrapped it and inside was the most beautiful sapphire ring in the world! The stone was a square cut and it was a little loose on my finger. Mom carefully attached a roll of adhesive tape to the back of the ring to make it fit snugly.
I wore that ring everyday for many years; in fact, I still have it. It’s a great reminder of a very memorable birthday.
Keep smilin’!
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