November 22, 1963, Happy Birthday Vickie!

No, I'm not trying to draw attention to myself. But I've been thinking back over the years about birthdays, good ones, bad ones, the milestones - 30, 40, 50 - and it seems like it HAS been 52 years, and yet it seems like it's flown by. The years are flying by faster and faster, aren't they?

1963 - I turned 7 years old. I was at my Nanny & PawPaw's house with my mom, dad, sister, & brother. My whole family was in mourning. My PawPaw had died on the day before - the 21st. He'd had 2-3 heart attacks in the last couple of weeks. I couldn't see him in the hospital for back then they wouldn't let you visit until you were 12 or so. Nanny & PawPaw were so special to me cuz I stayed with them when I was little so my mama could work at the bank. I didn't understand all that went on, of course, being so young. I drew pictures for PawPaw and my mom took them to the hospital to give him. She told me that he showed 'em to all the nurses. Still makes me smile when I think of that. PawPaw was only around 58-60 when he died. If it were today, he could've had by-pass surgery and lived...

Anyway, it was a sad day. Mom and Dad and Nanny were all upset, and trying to hide it from me and my sibs. They had a birthday cake and presents for me. Nanny had made me some clothes for my Barbie doll - she was a good seamstress. I don't remember what my parents gave me. People from church had brought lots of food to the house, but no one had much of an appetite.

We had the TV on during the day watching the goings-on. President John F. Kennedy was driving through Dallas, Texas, in a parade. All of a sudden, I remember this so clearly, my parents and Nanny, even though stricken with the loss of my PawPaw, jumped up and ran to the TV as we heard the shots ring out and the chaos that followed.

Unbelievable!!! Horrors! How could this happen to our President? Who could've done such a thing? I remember my folks were glued to the TV set as the events unfolded on November 22, 1963. I'm sure they, along with the rest of the nation, were distraught with anger, sorrow, and a zillion other emotions as the nation was shaken to the core with the loss of its leader.

I struggled in my 7-year old brain to understand what was going on. I just knew it was something terrible. I just knew it was horrible, almost as horrible as my PawPaw dying, even more so than before. My little sister was 4, she just kept on playing, and my baby brother slept through most of it.

Even today, the memory of that birthday is clear in my mind. It was a sad birthday. It was a historic birthday - something I'll always remember. A little black cloud hangs over that couple of days back in November of 1963. I don't know who my folks voted for that year, but I DO know that it always has seemed to me that he was the USA's golden boy and we will never know what great things Kennedy could've done, and never had the chance.

But you know what? I've had 51 other GREAT birthdays - times of happiness, times spent with loved ones, times with friends, hey my birthday falls on Thanksgiving every few years! My family says they get to be thankful for ME and we always have my birthday cake with Thanksgiving dinner (along with all the pies and stuff)! Of course, it's a big joke, but it gives us all a good laugh. I got cards in the mail, our best friends called from New York City to wish me Happy Birthday while on a trip, my kids all wished me a Happy Birthday & took me out to eat, my parents and DH's parents gave me cards with $$ in them to get me something, AND I got a new cell phone and some work boots for the farm from my husband. What more could a gal want? (I AM out of my favorite perfume, however, guess I'll have to get that for myself - I should have a big bottle or gift box of Light Blue - Dolce & Gabanna - Don't ya'll think so? I do!