Happy Birthday, Momma.

November 3rd. Momma’s birthday.

My mother was a public school librarian for 30 years. She graduated from Appalachian State Teacher’s College in 1956. (Go, Mountaineers!) Mother began her college studies as a math major, but after taking one elective course in library science, she switched majors. And thank goodness, for she was meant to be a librarian.

Momma loved being surrounded by books and high school “kids.” The library was her happy place.

Gwendolyn T. Carlton

Photo credit: Louise Adderholdt
Source: Hibriten High School Yearbook, 1975

November is the perfect time to express appreciation to and for the people who have impacted our lives in a positive way.

I am grateful to my mother for:
teaching me to read and write,
making a variety of books available in our childhood home,
reading to me when I was a child,
stressing the importance of education,
encouraging me to be a lifelong learner,
and instilling in me a love of books.

If mother were alive, I am confident that she would be my #1 cheerleader as I progress down this writing and illustrating path. And I know what she would say to me, for I can hear her unspoken words of encouragement in my head.

Try hard. Do your best work, Nancy. Just do your best. Remember that I love you, and I’m proud of you.

Happy Birthday, Momma. And thanks—for everything.