My mom is one of those people who really loves her birthday. And the older she gets, the more important this day becomes. This year, she is turning 89 and the planning began early. Some things are a given: flowers, candy, a lobster lunch, and of course, cake and ice cream.

In addition, we proposed some ideas to celebrate including a nice vacation or a theater production (or both). And after giving it some thought, she announced that she wanted to go to Knott’s Berry Farm. Yep, that’s right, a theme park.  As my sister and I groaned at the thought, we knew there was no escape. Once she makes a decision about something, it’s final. She is by far, one of the most stubborn people I know.

It’s funny how much she enjoys theme parks. The crowds, chaos, and expense don’t seem to phase her. She’s like a child when it comes to the sights and sounds. But mostly, it’s the rides. She’s crazy for the rides, particularly those that spin in circles or drench people with water.  

As we planned the trip, she was bubbling with excitement and talked of nothing else. She planned her outfit, packed her backpack, and purchased a baseball cap- all a month in advance. She checked each day off the calendar, counting down to the big event. Did I mention how much her birthday celebration means to her (or how obsessive she can be)?

Navigating a large park isn’t easy and it’s particularly challenging when someone has mobility issues. My mom has been through numerous spine surgeries and still has pain in her legs and lower back. Despite this, she refuses to use a wheelchair, even for a day.  The long walk to the entrance and through the security gate left me tired and frustrated. But she took it in stride and was rearing to go, walker and all.

The first ride up was the river rapids. We covered ourselves in cheap rain ponchos and boarded the raft. As we bounced around in the water, twisting and turning and getting wet, she screamed and laughed in delight. And it was the type of laugh I never hear from my mom anymore. For a glorious two minutes, her worries about the future disappeared and she was blissfully happy.

For the next eight hours, we trekked around the park, stopping only for a short lunch break. In all honesty, I was worried about her health; she is 89 after all. The walking, sun exposure, and jarring activity couldn’t possibly be good for her frail body.  But she just kept moving. People throughout the day were inspired by her tenacity as she set her walker aside and climbed aboard fast-paced rides.

I came to the realization that this day was more important than a visit to Knotts Berry Farm. It was about spending time with her grown children and recreating memories from years past. She was once again the vibrant mother who loved taking her babies to theme parks during summer vacation. And for the day, all three children (who live very different lives) were engaged in a family activity. She frequently talks about the “time she has left.” I’m pretty sure this is her ideal.

It’s certainly not lost on any of us, how lucky we are to have these birthdays to celebrate. I keep telling her she’s going to make it to 100. I only wished that she believed me.

As we walked towards the exit, we sat down on a bench to rest. I knew she was exhausted and sore. “I’m really glad you had a good time, mom,” I told her. “Well, I was thinking,” she said hesitantly, “how about Disneyland in September?”

Note: For those not familiar with Knotts Berry Farm, it’s an amusement park located in Buena Park, California. It’s known as the “original theme park” since its early beginnings go back to 1920. It has an “old west” theme to celebrate early California history and culture.  There are four areas of the park: the ghost town, fiesta village, the boardwalk, and Camp Snoopy. It’s much smaller and more dated than its neighbor, Disneyland. Yet, it’s more affordable and less crowded.