Birthdays In Lockdown Quotes

I drop Eileen and the kids off at home so I can go and visit Mam, the care home is on lockdown so I can't go inside, but we can talk through the window, I call and Mam's caregivers bring her up to the window, she is at a point where she is not even sure what a window is anymore, she thinks if she can see you through the clear glass, she can reach right through it. I look at her straight blond hair, the colour of Irish butter, and her clear blue eyes, I put up my hand for a wave and she responds by reaching her hand out as if she wants to hold my hand, I place my palm against the window and she puts her hand against my palm on her side, I can almost feel it, almost. She looks thinner now and I wonder if she knows me or remembers my name, she looks up at me then and her eyes light up, she knows me. I blow her a kiss and she tries to return it but she can't quite figure out how to do it, I love that she is trying, and if I don't get anything else today on my birthday, I'll take this effort at a kiss and a clasped hand from Mam, the only birthday gift I need.