Happy Birthday, Mimi!

Today is my mom's birthday... and now that I'm a mom, I have an all new appreciation for her. Our relationship has changed so much over the years... from my dad having to referee fights between us in my lovely teenage years... to being one of my best friends, shoe shopping buddies, and clothes swapping kindred spirit (to quote Anne of Green Gables!)

In honor of my mom, here is a list of things about my family that are strange to other people...

1. Our standard greeting to each other is "Girls..." followed by what we have to say. For example... "Girls... you'll never guess what happened to me today!" The weird part to people is that we say this whether we're talking to one person or 5 people. The not-really-plural "GIRLS" is just what we call each other.

2. We have this silly phrase that means we need a potty break... I have no idea where it came from. Maybe one of the Potts family or Gaither family can comment here and help us all understand. Our "code" for this is that we need to go see Sally. I guess maybe we're trying to be inconspicuous about it... instead of yelling it outloud? Hmmm.... and I guess now everyone out there knows the code... so it is no longer a secret.

3. We have a parking fairy. I don't know how the rest of the family will feel about me calling him a "fairy," but when we find a great parking space we always say "Howard Shepard, Howard Shepard" who apparently was the most patient man at waiting for parking spaces that we now bless his memory everytime we get a good one.

4. Another funny thing we say when greeting each other is "YO." What a throw-back to the 80's! That is usually how we greet each other on the phone... and sometimes we even combine the "YO" with "Girls" and then people really think we're strange. Usually, though, the Yo is followed by "Sister" which is our other term of endearment for each other. We are ALL Sisters... whether or not we are actually biologically related or not. I call my Aunts "Sister" just like my mom does. Is that weird or what?

5. We are suckers for a good sale. Maybe that's not so weird, but I definitely inherited my shopping genes from the Potts and Gaithers. Gee Gee Gaither is one of the best bargain shoppers I know... I have much to learn from her master jedi shopping skills.

6. The Potts family are insanely talented gardeners. My grandad's yard is a showpiece... and has been as long as I can remember (and I'm sure it was way before I was even around!) Unfortunately for me, that talent stopped at my mom's generation. I have about as black a thumb as you can possibly have. Good thing I inherited those shopping genes...

7. Another talent that ended with my mom is cooking and baking. Potts family gatherings are always centered around food... usually pot-luck. Man... my mom, aunts and grandmother can cook! My favorite things we eat are cheese grits, sweet potato casserole, and pear salad! My mom's cooking talent is hidden by her busy schedule, and so I learned my cooking skills from my dad. They consist of Hamburger Helper and Macaroni and Cheese. Thank God I married a good cook or my kids would think pasta was a food group.

8. We are dog people... cats are much despized in the Potts clan. I held this belief until I was married, and adopted a cat "Roxy" who still is my cuddle bug. Roxy is some sort of miracle worker, though, because my mom used to hate cats like the rest of her family... but when mom spent so much time at our house after the boys were born, she miraculously warmed up to Roxy. We caught her napping with Roxy on many occasions... and she won't admit it to anyone, but I think she really likes cats now.

9. Everyone has a nickname. Well, most everyone. Some people even have multiple nicknames... such as my grand dad who is known as "Pete" by some family members and "Jimmy" by others. Ask my uncle Robert about that one. Other nicknames include Sweet Linda, Cakes, Skeet, Speedy, Duck-Duck, Coach, Bop-Bop, Janie, and Uncle Dave just to name a few. People outside the family have nicknames, too... but those would have to be an entire blog topic.

10. We span the ages... I have a cousin younger than my kids and an aunt closer to my age than my mom's. I love this about my family! I love that my boys are growing up with my cousins... and the special bond I've always had with my aunt Mary Jane. (People are always telling me how much I look like her... what a compliment!)

I love my family... crazy as we may be, and today I am especially thankful for my mom.

Happy Birthday, Mimi... here's to many more years of crazy fun memories!