Christmas, 1979 - Rolling Meadows

Lauren dipping into Jesus's birthday cake, my mom's tradition. We weren't exactly what would be called a deeply religeous family. In fact, our churchgoing was limited to a few occasions a year, when I would be compelled to reintroduce myself to the Sunday school teachers. That not withstanding, when we were kids my mother would unfailingly hold a Jesus birthday party at our house and invite all the kids in the neighborhood to come over and celebrate. She would have us gather around the table, upon which was an angelfood cake with white frosting and a single lit candle, and have us sing, "happy birthday, dear Jesus, happy birthday to you..." She is now 92 and she had the party right on schedule last Christmas and we all sang.