Last week, Mother celebrated her 95th birthday.  I scanned some pictures, old and new, with Joannie’s help, to commemorate the event.

Here is the house where she was born, upstairs, with her grandmother and Dr. Dicky assisting.

A beautiful, bouncing Choctaw baby.  Her daddy was so proud.  He always called her  “Jo.”  I have no idea why.

A beautiful child in a lovely dress.  They never had much money, but she never knew that.  There was enough for a professional photographer and that dainty dress.  Look at those perfect bangs. She recalls a joyful childhood, especially mischief with her beloved “cousin.”

Here she is, a joyful mother of 19 with her own bouncing baby.  (That would be me.)

And on her 95th birthday in a room-full of flowers.

She was a stern and strict mother. I was never to contradict her or ever, ever embarrass her in public.  I choose to remember all the fun games that young mother made up to play with me.  She gave me lots and lots of advice.  I even take some of it to this day.