I’ve been thinking about my mother a lot this week. Between her birthday and mine, I keep remembering things the two of us used to do together and missing her extra.

My mother taught me everything I know about old movies. She and Nana and I would stay up until all hours if something we loved was going to be on. We woke up the whole house cackling at the comedies and crying at the dramas, but singing along with the musicals was our loudest and best activity together. We’d comb the TV Guide (remember those?) for our favorites; Singing in the Rain, Oklahoma, The Music Man, The Sound of Music, Gigi, and a host of others. I don’t think we ever missed one.

We loved quoting My Fair Lady to each other most of all. Whenever Mom was annoyed with me or in a bad mood, I’d do this scene as a monologue, and she’d crack up every time. So happy birthday to us, Mom!