My Family Traditions

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
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Surnames/tags: Family Traditions Ross

A family tradition is a shared experience that is established by a family to be sustained over time. These can be passed down over many generations of a family or can be newly established traditions that might survive time. These are a few of my Ross Family Traditions.

Happy Birthday

You fumble for the phone as it is insistent ringing wakes you from a deep sleep. Squinting through one sleep hazed eyeball, you realize it is still dark out and immediately you begin to fret as to who could be calling so early. Historically you know that a call this early is not typically good news. Your mind immediately starts running through the “what if” scenarios as you choke out “Hello”. Your thick “haven’t had my first cup of coffee yet” morning voice is barely more than a whisper and you are silently praying it is not bad news. “Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you. Whew, Whew, Whew.” <-- sound made when blowing out candles.

Cat Ballou - Birthday Scene

Ever since she saw a late-night TV re-run of the movie “Cat Ballou”, my mother called each of us before daybreak on our birthday to deliver that sentiment and then immediately hang up. Her inspiration was the humorous scene, where Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin) a washed-up drunken gunman enters the funeral parlor where Cat Ballou’s (Jane Fonda) father’s body is resting. In a drunken stupor he proceeds to sing "Happy Birthday" before blowing out the funeral candles.

It became a family tradition, and one could always count on receiving the Kid Shelleen birthday call from not only Mom but also their siblings and eventually their children. Then on March 17, 2002, I fumbled for the phone as its insistent ringing woke me from a deep sleep. Squinting through one sleep hazed eyeball, I realize it was still dark out and immediately I thought; “. . . just Mom calling to wish me Happy Birthday but no, my birthday was two weeks ago. We’ve already been there, done that.” I began to fret as to who could be calling so early. It was my Dad calling to tell me Mom would not wake up. The next few weeks were a blur. Notifying friends and family, making funeral arrangements, and trying to comfort Dad and my children. At some point during that time, it sadly occurred to me that I would never receive that early morning Birthday wish from her again nor could I wake her on her Birthday to return the favor. Today as I write this, it would have been her 86th Birthday. This one is for you Mom. . . . .

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you! Whew, whew, whew.

Happy Birthday by Kid Shaleen

Halloween