Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Happy Birthday, Peggy Joyce!


This is my cute mom as a baby. Hard to believe she is turning 70 today. 
This is my mom (little girl) with her older sister, Kathleen. She died of cancer when I was five.
If anyone deserves a tribute, it's my mom. She is truly the greatest:
  1. My mom brings dove chocolate squares everywhere. 
  2. My mom was born  in Lyndon, Alabama. It's a teeny town...just imagine Forrest Gump's town...it's right next door. She still has "kin" there, and they are colorful. It's a great and beautiful place to visit.
  3. She's a great cook. Thanksgiving at her house is legendary! Cornbread stuffing!
  4. She taught elementary school(partly in San Francisco) until she had kids. She went back to teaching when I was in 1st grade. She taught pre-school, 2nd grade, and 4th grade until she retired.
  5. She taught me to love and respect caffeinated soda. It's a big part of our lives.
  6. She took up Pilates at 65. She is in great shape! She ABSOLUTELY does not look 70. She has never looked her age. My sister and I just took her river rafting down the snake....she's gutsy!
  7. She drives a 1997 red Honda Prelude, which she considers her cool grandma car.
  8. She takes a lot of heat from Bill over her redneck ancestry. (Yes, as if coming from Bakersfield makes my husband so classy).
  9. You've never seen a woman shop like her....it's unreal. She knows many salespeople by their first names AND, she shares her Gymbucks with me.
  10. She has babysat for me on Thursdays (while I teach) for 8 years. AMAZING! Most my friends want her for  their mom. This service means more to me than anything in the world. Not only does she babysit, she often brings dinner, a new outfit or book for a child, and then raves on about how great your kids are.                                                                                                                                     ( Emi, right after she was born)
11. She has many true and loyal friends. They get together often, have fun gift traditions, and are very involved in each others lives. She is a social butterfly to say the least. 

12. My dad is not a skier. She is. She took all four of us kids skiing on Saturdays. Now that I'm a mom starting my kids skiing, I find this amazing. It's hard work!

13. She takes care of her older brother. If you are related to me, you know what I mean when I say that she will go to the celestial kingdom for this service.

14. She's a talker....there is no denying this. She gabs and gabs, but we love her for it.

15. She has many pseudo-grandkids that she's kind-of adopted. As if 14 of her own weren't enough. I think it's just an excuse to shop.

16. She still sleeps cuddled up with my dad. It's pretty cute.

17. My mom loves to splurge on things. She totally makes things special, and she's not afraid to throw down the dough to have a great time with her family.

18. She is the grandmother of your dreams! Cookie making, yearly pass to the Children's Museum, gifts galore, sleepovers, you name it. She tries to send us all on vacations so that she can have the grandkids all to herself. Her toy closet is out of this world. She takes it seriously.

19. My greatest memories of her is of our trips to New York and DC. We would shop So-ho, steal paper towels from J-Crew, get tea at The Plaza, see Broadway shows, and just enjoy girl time. I'm itchn' for one of those trips right now!

20. I did not get my dancing ability from her, but despite her lack of talent, she has a pretty great dance that she does to "The Jefferson's" theme song.

21. She sat at countless BYU football and basketball games to watch me cheer. This is all the more meaningful since she is a die-hard UTE. She would wear the red sweatshirt as a silent protest. 

(mom at Disneyland in 2008...love the Goofy hat)
22. The best thing about my mom is....I'm her favorite. O.K, not really. But we are most alike of anyone in our family, so that is nice. I hope Emi and I will be as close as I am with my mom. I truly consider her my closest friend. She is constantly rescuing me when I'm overwhelmed. I love you, Mom! Have a wonderful day!

15 comments:

Stacey said...

Very sweet tribute! I have always thought your mom was super cool because we share the same model Prelude... She obviously has excellent taste!

Karen said...

So sweet, Liz! What a great lady.

Kathryn said...

Thanks for putting down in writing all the things in our hearts we feel about Grandma. Peggy, have a wonderful birthday! Many hugs and kisses from New York!

Ashley said...

This was a great list about your mom! I have always loved Aunt Peggy. She is so sweet and has always been more like a (very young) grandma to me. I love that she is a believer in carbonation and that she can shop--esp. for grandbabies. That must run in the Jowers genetics. So funny about her ticket to the C. Kingdom! She sounds like such a fun grandma to your kids, too. I remember running into her at the Discovery Museum. Happy Bday Peggy! We love you!

Ashley said...

Also, your mom always gives the nicest, cutest gifts. I remember getting excited even as a child to see what she'd give my mom--cute vases and stuff. You gave Max the CUTEST outfit from gymboree last year. She goes way above and beyond!

brooke said...

Happy Birthday aunt Peggy! This post actually brought tears to my eyes (and made me laugh out loud). I think it is because I know how wonderful your mom is and because she reminds me of my mom. Peggy is an amazing grandma. She even gives my kids gifts and takes care of us. There is no way she is 70. She is in great shape and so fun to be around. I hope her day is fabulous. Remind her that it is gymbuck redemption time right now so she doesn't forget again :-)

Anonymous said...

It is true...your mom is awesome! I cant believe she is turning 70....sure does not look or act like it at all. But hey isn't 70 the new 50? Tell your mom Happy Birthday and thank you for all she does for us.
Anne C.

brooke said...

I think Emi looks just like your mom in the photo of her with Grandma Poole.

Cindy said...

What a sweet tribute and an amazing lady...Happy Birthday!

Bill said...

It's all true! - except the knock on Bakersfield. Next to her cooking, I think I love Peggy's sense of humor most - I love to hear her laugh. It's the perfect mix between a giggle and a cackle. Happy BDay Peggy! 70 years of age - and almost 1/2 of it with modern plumbing.

PS- I think Linda looks just like Kathleen in the pic w/ Peggy.

Marrdy said...

What a great post!! I remember going to Pilates and seeing your Mom there and being so grateful I wasn't the oldest one there. THEN..she exercised the heck out of me. Shut my brain right up. Happy Birthday!!

kjirsten said...

What a sweet birthday tribute, from a grateful daughter - to an amazing mother! I sure enjoyed the few times I got to be around your Mom . . . she just makes ya happy!!

Linda said...

Happy Belated Birthday, Peggy! (I just found the blog!!) I CAN'T BELIEVE Peggy is 70! NO WAY!! I didn't even acknowlege that yesterday because it never occurred to me that she could be over 60!! I loved the tribute - all true and have witnessed most of the attributes first-hand. I love your mom like my own - she has been mom, sister as well as aunt to me. . .I'm getting choked up just writing this. Peggy has been my rolemodel all my life -- my mom (in the picture with her) used to tell me she wanted me to be just like Peggy! No one can be Peggy, but we call all try! She is one in a million - and yes, she would be going straight to the Big "C" even without taking care of you know who - that's just extra credit. LOVE YOU, PEGGY!!
(and I'm so glad I found your blog, Liz - looks like my girls got here first!)

Linda said...

that's "CAN all try."
Bill - are you serious? Do I look like my mom? I'm thrilled!!

pan x 8 said...

What a SWEET post Liz!! Thanks for sharing how great your Mom is.. now, we know why are you so great!!