Last week, on my birthday, I was scrolling Facebook.  I follow a page called “Phantom Stranger’s Wild Wild West”.  The page posted a photo of Natalie Wood in her role on “The Searchers”.  It was then I learned her birthday was also July 20^th. 

I was immediately reminded of a “birthday gift” I received several years after my mother passed away.

I have never worked on my birthday. I have always taken the day off.  One of those days, I went to an “antique” mall and was browsing through the booths.  My eye was caught by the magazine cover in the picture I have included with this letter. 

Several things were significant enough to me for me to have no doubt in my mind it was my mother reaching out to me from the spirit world or the Holy Spirit providing very specific comfort.  Not trying to be spooky or flaky.  I just can’t overlook these things as coincidence.  First, my mother’s favorite color was orange.  That in itself is unusual.  She is the only person I ever heard say orange was their favorite color.  She loved Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.  I think McCall’s was one of the the only magazines for which she ever subscribed.  And most significant.  This issue is July 1965. The month and year I was born.  I wish I could remember how old I was when I found it.  Maybe 40 or so? I bought it and framed it and had it on the wall for a few years. 

So then again last week, I felt Mother wishing me happy birthday through a Facebook post on some random page I follow. Natalie. July 20^th. 

I don’t care if anyone thinks I am stringing too much together.  Making too much of it.  Even my mother would have looked askance at me for this, I think.  But she knows more now, living on the other side with the Lord. 

Anything I can latch on to that helps keep her memory renewed in my heart and allows me to forward her legacy of love on to her descendants is worth anyone thinking I am flaky. 

Thank you, Mama! I love you, too!