Hot Cocoa and Birthday Surprises

The following was inspired by the Writer’s Workshop hosted by Mama Kat at Mama’s Losin It! The prompt I chose this week was: 4) Read the quote and let it inspire your post: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”. -Maya Angelou

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

I have two younger sisters. Years ago when Ms. C who is 4 years my junior, celebrated her 17th birthday, I impulsively had a bouquet of flowers and a mylar balloon delivered to her at home. She was so excited to have received such a surprise and for years after, displayed the deflated mylar balloon on her bedroom wall.

A few years ago, we were all sitting around talking about some of the more special moments in our lives and Ms. C recalled this surprise delivery. She talked about how happy it made her feel to have her special day recognized this way. During the same conversation, we both learned something that we never ever ever ever considered.

MammaLena who was 8 years old at the time, was soaking it all in. She remembered for years how happy Ms. C was and thought that it would surely be repeated when she reached her own 17th birthday. She would share the same joy and memories of being thought of in such a special way by her big sister.

Well. I totally didn’t know. I had no idea. I did not send a bouquet of flowers and a mylar balloon to MammaLena on her 17th birthday. Her big sister let her down. I never thought that a wonderful impulsive gesture for one sister would lead to me making another feel a little left out on her birthday years later.

This weekend MammaLena is celebrating a milestone birthday. She wants to have brunch with her sisters, to watch us bake her a German Chocolate cake with the bonus of being able to eat some of the warm coconut pecan frosting from the pan and to relax with a movie. So we’ll make that happen and I’ll be sure to throw in a “big sister” surprise as well.

Now I need cocoa.  To make a cup for yourself, look for the recipe on the side of a container of Hershey’s Cocoa or click here.

To participate in this weekly writing assignment, visit Mama’s Losin’ It!,  check out the other prompts and then Join In!