In 1983, I was at Ball State University on my first time away from home on my birthday and Mother started a tradition of calling me at the time I was born, 6:03 PM.

Sometimes, she’d call as I was in the middle of something, but I would immediately call her back so she could officially kick off my next year.  Most of the time, when my anticipated birthday-call fell on a weekday, I would explain to whomever, the tradition and that at 6:03 PM, I would be taking a call.  Private students began looking forward to this call.

I absolutely loved this call.  It was that one connection that only she and I had originally share from my beginning, and our beginning as Mother and son.

These telephone calls continued, without fail, until last year, September 25, 2018.

This morning, I was clearing out items on my phone and discovered I still had the last recorded birthday message Mother was ever to deliver.

For the past sixteen years, my neighbor, Kay Moore, has been my Ohio mom and I’ve always called her “Mama Kay.”  Even her daughter and son refer to me as their brother.

Tonight, Mama Kay extended the Mother-Son tradition; she came over to give me a birthday kiss and hug at 6:03 PM.

Even when there’s a change in cast, the show must go on…

Thank you, Mother, for everything.  Know you are loved…