Five Birthday Cakes for Mom

Back in October, I mentioned to my husband that my mom would be turning 70 in a few months. To celebrate, I wanted to do something extra special for her. She’s an incredible woman. She raised my brother and me as a single mom while working full-time as a teacher and part-time in various jobs over the years (she was still lifeguarding well into her 40s, maybe even her 50s!). She never complained, never bemoaned her situation, and I never saw her as anything but incredibly strong and resilient.

She loves to travel, so I told her I’d take her anywhere she wanted to go for her 70th birthday. In her ever-so-humble-and-practical way, she said she’d love to go to the beach for the weekend. In Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. In February. Um, Mom. Anywhere in the world and you choose Rehoboth in February? Try again.

She called me back a couple weeks later and said she wanted to go to Africa. Well, that escalated quickly, but I did tell her we’d go anywhere. Africa, it is.

On February 7th, just two days before her 70th birthday, my mom and I boarded a plane for Nairobi, Kenya. After a long journey we arrived in Nairobi and checked into our hotel. Awaiting us was a cake for my mom. It was nearly midnight on February 8th. We were both exhausted, but we dug into the delicious cake and then hit the sack.

We left the next morning for our first camp, Loisaba Tented Camp in Northern Kenya. After a flying bus trip to get there, we were greeted with a lion sighting on our way from the airstrip to the camp. Wow! It was now actually my mom’s birthday and we were treated to a cake and singing to celebrate. She got red with embarrassment, but I think she liked it. Cake number two was delicious and the perfect way to celebrate her official birthday.

We met great people at this camp, including the camp director, Patrick Dessy, who will be coming with his family to visit the United States soon. I’ll be sure to show him the same hospitality he and his staff showed me! We saw giraffes, lions, dik-diks, elephants, gazelles, and so, so much more.

Off we went to Karen Blixen Camp, another trip by flying bus. My belly didn’t love the flying experience, but it was undoubtedly an efficient way to get us from camp to camp. This camp was in the Mara, and the animals were plentiful. Lions…lots of lions. Leopards, lots of leopards. Elephants, lots of elephants. Cheetahs, lots of cheetahs. Giraffes, lots of giraffes. You get the idea. Warthogs, hippos, monkeys, gazelles, Cape buffalo, and so much more. Dinner our first night was punctuated with more cake and singing for my mom! Her face flushed again, and again, I think she did like it, deep down inside.

At Karen Blixen Camp, we met lots of Danes and Swedes, notably because Karen Blixen (of Out of Africa fame) was from Denmark. More great people, including a visit to a Masai village and an Eco-Tour of the camp, more great sights, and nature at its finest.

After our visit at Karen Blixen wrapped up, we drove with our guide to Olare Mara Kempinski Resort. It was a 90-minute drive by Land Rover across rutted roads. And on the drive? So many more animals and sights to see!

Our second night at Olare Mara, while enjoying an absolutely amazing dinner, we were again serenaded and my mom got her fourth cake. Again, flushed face, but by now, we both giggled at this as I insisted I had nothing to do with this. I’m not sure she believed me.

After three nights at Olare Mara, we went back to Nairobi on the flying bus and enjoyed our final day in Kenya with the family of one of my former franchisees. They own a cut rose farm outside of Nairobi and we got a personal tour of it, learned about their conservation work, and how they cut roses on a Sunday and those roses may be on someone’s table in Moscow by Wednesday. Talk about logistics! After our beautiful tour of the farm, we headed to the farmhouse where we were met with a delicious buffet luncheon of traditional Swahili food…and another cake! This time, baked by a family friend. And again, my mom was serenaded by our new friends.

Nearly two weeks with my mom in Kenya and we were on our way home. We saw the most amazing animals in their natural habitat, observed ‘kills’ and watched the lions feast on zebras while hyenas hovered nearby. We spent hours reading silently. Reading is a passion for both of us and while she’s retired now and reads a LOT, it’s still a luxury for me. We also talked a ton about life, experiences, what we each enjoyed about the trip, and so much more.

It was nearly two weeks of uninterrupted time with my mom. If I’m being honest, I probably haven’t spent that much uninterrupted time with her since childhood. And it was glorious. I was so grateful. She remarked more than once on our journey home that she hasn’t ever had five cakes for her birthday. In fact, she can’t remember when she last had a single cake for her birthday. We didn’t make a big deal of birthdays in our family. I know all families are different, but I have to say, making her 70th birthday unforgettable made the entire trip so much more worth it.

Five cakes. Five delicious cakes, complete with singing, dancing, and celebration. Here’s to my mom. Age 70, and still full of spunk and life and sass.

If you get a chance to spend time with your mom or dad, do it. Whether it’s two weeks in Africa or just a quick weekend away. Or even a phone call. Anything. It’s worth it, and I promise you won’t regret it.

And my final note on the trip? Make sure my mom gets cake for her birthdays. Sing. Celebrate. Every year. Maybe even five cakes! She’s worth all of that, and so much more. Thanks, Mom! Love you!