Happy Birthday, Mom!

February 06, 2019

At 4:30 p.m. (right on schedule) on Friday evening of January 25th, Mom was home from her afternoon playing games with friends at her local church in Black Canyon City, AZ. She walked directly to the sunroom and was surprised to find her four children waiting for her. "We heard there was a birthday girl here," I said. And then she cried, followed by giving a hug to each one of us: My 3 younger brothers Craig (Moines, IA), Bret (Webster, WI), Todd (DesMoines, IA) and me.

Celebrating Mom's 80th birthday (and wishing Dad was participating with us) was a weekend affair. Uncle Bob and Aunt Jane, Uncle Dale, Uncle Darryl and Aunt Sarah came over for pie on Friday evening. On Saturday morning, the 5 of us went out for breakfast and then spent the morning at Cousin Kristi's (and her husband, Jeff's) home visiting Cousin Michael (CA) and his daughter, Alexis (a college student). In the afternoon, we played bean bag and king's corner at Uncle Ronald's and Aunt Fern's home. After a home-cooked meal made by Mom, we enjoyed ice cream with Dennis and Marcie, Todd's in-laws and friends of Mom and Dad.

Sunday morning involved services at the local Baptist Church (The pastor announced that the Torgerson family had 1 more person in attendance than the Lovely family; P.S. They weren't the Lovely family. I can't recall their real name, but remember how everyone thinks highly of the each of them), followed with brunch (5 of us plus Aunts and Uncles) at a restaurant in Anthem. Later in the afternoon, they were all invited back to Mom's (plus Kristi and Jeff) for birthday cake.

On Monday morning starting at 9:00 am, the 5 of us (including 80-year-old Mom) with Uncles Dale, Darryl and Bob (Bob turns 88 in mid-February), friends Charlie, Ron (Winchester) and their friend, Paul, had lunches packed and were ready to depart on a day's adventure riding 4-wheelers in the desert. Together we explored desert trails, crossed the river at least 10 times, stopped at the proudly decrepit town of Cleater for a soda and snacks, and back home via the Bumble Bee Ranch Trail. The sky was blue and the temps were perfect in the 60s. Craig was a great leader for us all, knowing where and when he needed to assist riders through difficult spots, as well as when and where to break for water or lunch. Returning back home to Mom's house around 4 pm, the 5 of us enjoyed showers, a roast beef dinner and a good night's rest!

Tuesday was departure day for Bret and me. Todd would stay until Thursday; Craig through Saturday. How lucky that my brothers and I could carve out the time to spend this milestone birthday with our Mom. And Mom said more than once how glad she was for our time together. Can it get any better than that?

We were all together from January 25-29 in Black Canyon City, AZ to celebrate Mom's 80th.
From left to right: Baby-brother Todd; Middle-brother Bret; Mom; Big Sis Brenda; and Craig.