Present is a token of her love and pride

A long time ago, in another lifetime, I was picking strawberries with my mother-in-law at a commercial fruit farm. I had never picked strawberries anywhere but home before. The fields of delectable fruit stretched on for several acres. To complicate matters, my mother-in-law was recovering from recent surgery and I was very pregnant. We were an interesting pair as we lumbered through the rows.

My daughter, Beth, was born the next day. To this very day I associate strawberries with her birth.

Beth has a birthday later this week. When I first looked into her tiny face I felt that I couldn’t possibly love her any more than I did then. I soon found out that I was wrong, as every day I love her more. We have been through the terrible two’s, smart aleck three’s and four’s, a near perfect childhood that came to an abrupt end at 16 when somebody switched kids with me and replaced my perfect daughter with a demon child. It took a couple of years before she reverted to her usual perfect self. And, no, it didn’t involve an exorcism.

Now she is dealing with a pre-teen daughter, two adorable boys of her own and her husband’s two kids. So far, all five are perfect. She now knows exactly what I meant when I told her, “I hope you have kids just like you.” We are not going down to Texas for her birthday this year. Her in-laws, husband and children will have to make sure she has a good day. Fortunately, they love her almost as much as I do.

I am still shopping for her present. I considered an orchid. The guy I usually buy from has gotten a little pricey lately and I am debating on whether to spend the money anyway or to try the local flower shop. Beth is the only person I know, other than the guy who sells orchids, who can get the fussy flowers to live and bloom.

There are other options, as she is usually the easiest person to shop for. She gets novelty T-shirts for us, so maybe I should get one for her. Candy is not an option as she has recently lost weight and is determined to keep it off. Besides, candy would probably melt in transit. She likes wind chimes.

Maybe one of those? Or should it be something else entirely? I’m running out of time to decide.

It really doesn’t matter what I choose. The actual present is but a small token of my love for her and the pride I feel as she travels through life.

I sincerely hope that you have someone who feels that kind of love for you. I hope you experience that same feeling of affection for someone else. It doesn’t have to be a parent-child relationship. Any time you feel joy at another’s success is an inkling of that emotion.

Beth and I live far apart. We don’t talk on a daily basis, partly because her work schedule changes every other second. However, when either of us has a serious problem, we pick up the phone and call. Facebook provides pictures and allows me to see her and her family frequently. It is almost enough.

I still need to shop for a present and get it in the mail. I’m not sure what I will buy. It has to survive a trip across the country and my own talent for procrastination. Her other family will celebrate with her. And I will remember how she came to be.