Every year for the past 50 some years, November 18th has marked my day - the day the world changed for my parents and most especially for me. It's my birthday. But for the past 5 years, it's kinda just been like any other day. The last birthday I celebrated with those who gave me life was my 47th. That seems like a century ago.
I have tried really hard to put some distance between my emotions and not letting the day go by without being thankful for all the blessings I have in my life. My family - my boys. They spoil me. I couldn't have made it through these years without them. My friends - those sweet people who get me. I love them for that. But, mostly my faith. Faith has brought me to where I am today. Faith is what gave me strength and peace during the final days of my parents lives. Faith is what has brought me to who I am today.
Many of you know, some don't. My Mother was a Nun, yes a real life Nun. With a habit, with Rosary beads. So it's no wonder that so much of my jewelry has a religious theme. Especially to Mary, the Blessed Mother, Ave Maria, the Milagros, to the Miraculous Medals. Really, it's a tribute to my Mom. The last words we spoke was the Hail Mary before she took her last breath. It's why I'm making jewelry. It took me about a year to go through my Mom's things after she passed away. But what I found astounded me. Mom never really spoke about her days in the convent, so when I opened her jewelry box and found many Rosary beads and medals, I was shocked. It made me realize what her faith meant to her. I just knew at that very moment what I needed to do . . . I was going to carry on a little of that faith through my jewelry. Some may be offended, but the way I look at it, we could all use a little love, peace and strength from the Blessed Mother.
So as I celebrate another birthday without them, I cling to my faith, their love for me, and the knowledge that they will always be with me.
Today is not about me, Tippy Stockton, jewelry, or anything in the present. Today is about my Mom. 1,576,800 minutes ago, my Mom left this earth. So that means that I have been missing her for 1,576,800 minutes. When you pencil it out, it's been a long time. So I thought today I would give you a little history on this amazing woman I called Mom. 
Born on August 15, 1928 to a German immigrant Mother (Julia Kaempf), and an Irish Immigrant Father (William Frances Dwyer). Arriving a year before the Great Depression, life was not always easy for the Dwyer's. Money was scarce, but they always seemed to make it. Until my Mom's Father William died of a sudden heart attack when my Mom was 10. My Mom was put in charge of taking care of things around the house so that my Grandmother could go out and make some kind of a living. We were always amazed when we heard that she worked for several Jewish family's in Jamaica Queens, NY. She being a German Immigrant and all. 
Probably one of the most amazing things is that through it all, my Mother NEVER missed one day of school for 12 years. Wow!
In 1950, my Mother entered the convent to become a nun. She joined the order of the School Sisters of Notre Dame located in Baltimore, MD. After spending almost 7 years as a noviate, she decided that this was not the life for her. She was destined to become a wife and mother.
Getting out of the convent meant that she was now a woman on the prowl. She got herself a job working for Morrie, the owner of a Junk Yard in Brooklyn. This is where she would eventually meet her Prince Charming, my Dad Joe!
The BIG DAY was September 14, 1957. Surrounded by family and friends, she and my Dad said their I DO's in the same Parish church that she was brought up in.
On a snowy day in November, 1960 I was born. Their firstborn . . . a daughter they would call Patricia Ann (a name for both of them Patrick (Daddy), and Ann (Mommy).
Many happy days ensued and so many memories made . . .
I wouldn't be so quick to tout yet another birthday, but this year is different for a variety of reasons. When I picked up the mail yesterday, there was a large envelope filled with a few things; some were not a surprise to me, but there was one thing in this little package that brought me to tears. My Mom's cousin Ellen has been clearing out her home in PA getting ready for a big move. Her husband Joe passed away a few months ago and she is moving closer to her children. I can only imagine the memories that have flooded her world in the past few weeks. She called me last week to let me know that she had found some things of my Mom's - a Weight Watchers Diet Guide from the early 60's. Nothing fancy, but it had notes written in the margins in my Mom's beautiful handwriting. But the other thing in this envelope is what rocked my world on the day before my birthday - it was MY birth announcement that my parents sent out to herald the birth of their firstborn daughter. You see, both my parents passed away in the past year and as my brothers and I went through Mom and Dad's belongings we never found baby books for any of us. I kind of knew there wouldn't be - Mom had given me treasures of my childhood in bits and pieces. Things like report cards, immunization records, special notes and art projects that I had done as a child. Things I have always treasured. But this little card as shown above is the thing that I will treasure forever now. I never knew it even existed. Wow! So as I celebrate my birthday today with my family and friends, I relish the 48 birthdays that I had with my folks, mourn the fact that they are not here today to share this special day with me, and honor and thank them for the most wonderful years we did have together. Happy Birthday to you Mom and Dad for bringing me into this most amazing life!!!
