Today my Mother-in-Law turns 71. We're going south for the night to have supper with her, my Father-in-Law, her sisters, and their husbands.
She was kind of a fat little baby, like our girl. She has beautiful eyelashes, like Brown Eyed Man. This picture looks nothing liker her to me, but I can see my husband in it.
This looks like my Mother-in-Law. Her father was born in 1900. She was his 3rd daughter, but the oldest daughter of her Mother who was much younger than her father. In all, there were seven daughters of Mr. Holcomb. Only one has passed away. The youngest is only three years older than my husband.
She was the caretaker of the younger girls. She still is in many ways. She's always been a caretaker. She loves those girls and their families.
They got married in 1959 in Roseburg, Oregon. A few weeks prior to the wedding, the whole town exploded. They had a hard time finding someone to make the cake.
In 1961, my Husband was born. His sister came along in 1963.
My Mother-in-Law stayed home as you do in the 1960's and my Father-in-Law went to work for the company that he still works for today. Yes, over 52 years. They built a home in Eugene around 1963 or 1964 and they have lived there ever since. It's a beautiful house on a great piece of property. My Mother-in-Law keeps the yard so nice. It looks like a gardening magazine.
For a short period of time, while the kids were in school, she went to work at a fabric shop and also at a cafe. She would hit baseballs to my husband when he was a boy for practice. She taught him how to embroider and she still has the dish towel he made with a squirrel on it. She wouldn't let him play football because he was too small and she didn't want him to get hurt. She kept the records in his baby book until he was 21 years old. Every professional picture from each kid and every grandkid has their name, age and weight at the time of the picture on the back. When we go home, we still sleep in his bedroom.
She sewed all the time and many family photos have everyone wearing something made of the same material. Isn't my husband a cute little boy?
Brown Eyed Man got big enough he could play football. But he didn't, he was a gymnast. Not the tumbling kind, but rather the rings and bars and pommel horse kind. He also competed in arm wrestling tournaments.
These two fight like cats and dogs now. They love each other, but they can't be in the same room without arguing. They don't see it that way though. It's sport for them. When left alone, they tend to have very nice conversations. I only know this from listening to them from another room.
She knows how to make all the best food. She can sew anything. She knows every gardening question. She like to go antique shopping. Her house is immaculate. She loves cats. She buys our dog a Christmas present every year.
When I make things that Brown Eyed Man has had in the past, he always says "Maybe you should get my Mom's recipe for this".
She rarely smiles in photos. She worries about all of her kids and grandkids, whether there is anything to worry about or not. She's glad I came along, which makes me feel good. She thinks I'm a good influence on her grandkids. That's a great compliment.
She is in better shape than many people my age. She works out every day. At supper time, she hardly sits down because she wants to make sure everyone has what they need.
Brown Eyed Man and I grew up in very similar households so it was comforting to me to join this family as they were so similar to mine. We were so lucky to have Dads that worked and Moms that stayed home.
Our kids are lucky to have her for a Gramma. She is the quintessential Gramma. My husband and his sister are lucky to have her for a Mom. My Brother-in-Law and I are lucky to have her for a Mother-in-Law. My Father-in-law loves her with all his heart.
Happy 71st Birthday Mother-in-Law!
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