Debbie Lanier's Life and Times: Birthdays

Many of you know how seriously I take my birthday and upset I can get when it's forgotten. That's due to one person: Debbie Lanier. 

She reversed the narrative and ended the cycle by taking not only mine and my brother's birthdays so seriously: she did the same towards anyone around. Especially if it were a child. My mom would at least bake a cake and cook a meal of your choice or even give you money. Debbie truly had a big heart and wanted you to have a special day. 

My mom didn't have the milestone celebrations at 18, 21, etc. I did throw her a 50th and she didn't want a 60th nor 65th. She made sure our birthdays were celebrated, even if all she gave was a cake, card and money/dinner. I've found all sorts of blank birthday cards in her things. She was ready! 

Now she would say I'm doing too much when I would get sad and mad about folks forgetting my birthday. My thing is my birthday shouldn't be hard to forget and if we're cool, why not remember? My mom did it to me y'all! I now keep another part of her legacy alive and remember and celebrate birthdays. 

Her brother, my uncle, realizes this also. He never forgot my birthday, even in prison, and made sure I had a great day. I'm grateful that my birthday was a priority because everyday is truly a gift! 

Debbie Lanier's Life and Times: Volume 7: Comedies

I'm back after two weeks of celebrating independence and life! 

Debbie's form of happiness was watching comedies and often over and over. She said she liked to laugh and it gave her a sense of peace. She wasn't with dramas and tearjerkers. 

Her favorite the final ten years of her life was Roseanne. When Roseanne returned to the air and she was temporarily blacklisted, I bought my mom the box set. Debbie would watch those episodes daily on repeat, DVD or TV. She also loved Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Reba, Mike and Molly, King Of Queens, Frazier, Becker, Everybody Hates Chris and many others. Comedic sitcoms were her safe space and kept her at ease. 

My mom and I shared a great love for these shows over the years and watching/rewatching these shows keeps that part of her alive.