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Celebration/ Celebrant/ Entrant (Alias): Birthday
City: Parramatta State: NSW
When my mum Elva was 88, we decided to hold a "This Is Your Life" style ceremony for her.
We thought it time to put into action a belief we'd had for a long time - namely we need to celebrate our loved ones while they are alive (ie not wait for them to be dead to do so)!
We chose 2pm on a Sunday afternoon at the Parramatta Leagues Club. A room was hired and afternoon tea (tea, coffee and pastries) catered for by the Club.
This was covered by a $25 donation from those attending, on the understanding that there were to be no individual gifts.
We asked family and friends to bring along their tributes in the form of
* What they appreciated about Mum
* A treasured memory
* What they would like to Thank Her for
* What they would like to Wish Her for the Future
on special stationery paper I supplied, along with a photo of themselves with Mum.
We compiled a lovely Appreciation Album for a group gift on the day. This was presented to Elva at the Cake Cutting
In retrospect, I think this may have worked better perhaps if done on the day and then written up over afternoon tea. Mainly because having expressed their thoughts on paper, we felt something was lost in spontaneity.But Mother loved her album, reading it later with much enjoyment.
Elva was a very proud lady, already struggling with walking sticks. I feel worried that if I left it too long she may not have wanted to participate at all. She agreed because it was also a good excuse to get the family .
As it turned out Mother needed a walking frame soon after and developed dementia so if it had been left any later, it would have been too late.
When Mother died almost 4 years later, I felt very relieved in that we had honoured her when she was with us. Of course the funeral ceremony was needed for us to mark our loss and grief. But I was so thankful that we had made her 88th so special.
I would love to hear what others have done to mark special birthdays with ceremony and / or special activities or gifts.
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