National Bird Day!!!

(My mother aka BIRD, hamming it up outside Graceland in Memphis)

Larger than life!  More fun than a barrel of Monkeys! Always had a joke to tell!  Life of the party!
She was all that and more. 

But how did she get the name Bird?  We called her Grandmother for almost 2 years when her first grandchild came along.  Every time we came to town to visit my grandfather would also come see us.  For Bird to get some one on one time with her granddaughter Courtney, she would take her to see the baby birds that were in a nest on the porch.  Mom and I had gone on a trip and they all (Papa included) came to pick us up at the airport.  Courtney saw my mom and yelled, Bird!  And the rest they say is history.  Mom really wanted to be called grandmother, but Papa started calling her Bird.  We all joined in and soon even her friends called her Bird.

She embraced her new name and was Bird to everyone. Pictured above with Courtney who named her!

   (Bird and Lisa)

   (Bird and all her daughters, Lisa, Jennifer and Lindsay)

Bird was the ultimate SHE.  She was able to raise 4 children on her own.  She instilled the ability to cook, clean, host parties and run a household to each of her children.  She had time to cultivate life long friendships.  She raised money for several charities, but her favorite was St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.  After we married she was the Bird on our shoulder whispering how to do this and that.  She whispered because she wanted to quietly help us be successful.  She was confident that what she had taught us would make us the SHE's she envisioned. 


I am not sure what "going to Grandmother's house" is like for you and yours, but "going to Bird's House"  was always an adventure.  There was always a new recipe to try.  She always wanted to go see a movie at the theater or watch a few at her house.  Games!  She loved games.  We would play Mexican Train (dominoes) or Phase 10 (card game).  She also would play Go Fish and tons of board games.  Sometimes we even played charades.  Danced....dancing was part of her DNA.  There was always music on and she wanted all her kids and grandkids to know how to dance. 

Cookies and BBQ chips were always in her pantry along with the favorites of the grand kids. Shopping!   I can't forget her favorite sport.  Well, she thought it was a sport!  Last but not least she always had a "project" for us...it could be planting flowers, scrapbooking or even a cookbook. 

I miss going to Bird's House!  I miss her!  So, I am putting my energy into being like her.  I want my house to be the new Bird House!  I want to encourage you if you don't have a "Bird" in your life.  To be a Bird for someone else!

Today is National Bird Day.  If it were truly a day to honor my Bird, then what would the day look like?  What kind of holiday would it be???  Here is a list of 10 things you would do today!

1. Listen to music by Elvis.
2. Tell jokes.
3. Dance to music from the 50's and 60's (make sure you do the twist).
4. Call and go to lunch with a friend you haven't seen in a while.
5. Eat a cookie and BBQ chips while drinking fruit tea.
6. Donate your time and your money to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
7. Play Mexican Train, Phase 10 and or other games.
8. Go to a movie.
9. Read a book.
10. Make a list of things you need to do tomorrow.

You can always substitute shopping for one of the above!

I hope you enjoy Bird's Day!!!

Lisa