2026 - 44 Birthdays to Remember

Margaret “Peggy” Nolen Wallis, My Mother

52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks

Week 44 of 2026

Prompt: Something That Surprised Me

This story didn't surprise me, but it will probably surprise you.

My mother was born on St. Patrick's Day, so her birthday was always a double celebration. Over the years, we found some special ways to celebrate, and Mom was always ready for an adventure.

When I lived in Houston, she and my brother Dave came for a visit. Houston was known for its big St. Patrick's Day parade, so naturally we went to the parade and then to a local pub, where we drank green beer.

But that was only the beginning of our birthday adventures.

An 80th Birthday Road Trip — 2006

For her 80th birthday, I took Mom to Hot Springs, Arkansas. It was our first mother-daughter trip. (Daddy was working.)

I had a hard time finding a green window marker, but I finally found one and decorated my van with shamrocks and birthday greetings. On the back window, I wrote, “Honk for the 80th Birthday!” On her side of the van, I wrote, “It's My Birthday!” with an arrow pointing toward her window.

March 17, 2006 - Mom and the birthday van arriving at motel in Hot Springs, Arkansas. 
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We went to the historic Buckstaff Bathhouse and had the full treatment.

Mom at the Buckstaff Bathhouse in Hot Springs, Arkansas, during her 80th birthday trip.
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Always a flirt, Mom met an older gentleman in a restaurant who gave us tickets to his box seats at the racetrack. We had already planned to go to the races, so this was an unexpected bonus!

March 17, 2006 - Mom enjoying the horse races at Oaklawn Park, Hot Springs, Arkansas.
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We had so much fun that we decided another birthday trip was in order.

Branson for Her 83rd — 2009

Three years later, in 2009, we celebrated Mom's 83rd birthday with another trip, this time to Branson, Missouri.

Her niece Peggy joined us at Mom's home in Bentonville, Arkansas, and we continued on to Branson, where we enjoyed several shows.

March 17, 2009 - Ready to leave for Branson. All dressed in green for Mom's 83rd birthday!
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March 17, 2009 - Mom and her niece Peggy enjoying a show in Branson, Missouri.
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A New Adventure at 85 — 2011

By her 85th birthday in 2011, Mom was living in assisted living in Bentonville, but that didn't mean we had run out of ways to celebrate.

That year, I took her to Pinnacle Hills in Rogers, Arkansas, to get her ears pierced!

March 17, 2011 - At age 85, Mom gets her ears pierced at Pinnacle Hills in Rogers, Arkansas. 
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Afterward, she announced that she had given up her last prejudice when she got her ears pierced.

I loved that! Even at 85, Mom was willing to try something new.

Still Celebrating

After Mom moved to assisted living in Tulsa, we continued celebrating her St. Patrick's Day birthdays.

There were parties, funny hats, and poker games. She still enjoyed dressing in green and getting into the spirit of the day.

March 17, 2012 - Mom celebrating her birthday at Villages of Southern Hills, Tulsa, Oklahoma. 
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March 17, 2014 - Mom celebrating her 88th birthday with a game of Texas Hold 'Em with Bud.
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By her 89th birthday in 2015, Mom was spending much of her time in bed. But that didn't mean the celebrations stopped. There she was, wearing her St. Patrick's Day hat and green scarf, with Bud beside her.

March 17, 2015 - Mom's 89th birthday. Still wearing her green!

And Then There Was That Birthday in Houston...

Of all the birthday celebrations we shared, there's one I haven't mentioned yet.

It happened years earlier, when I was living in Houston.

A group of my girlfriends and I decided to take Mom to a nightclub featuring male dancers, à la Chippendales.

We even gave her dollar bills so she could “tip” the dancers.

She loved it!

And she didn't hesitate to tuck those dollar bills into their G-strings.

That's my mom!