My mom Eve turns 80 today. Here is a picture of her and my dad that I’m guessing is from some time in the 70s. A family friend posted it on Facebook just yesterday, and I’m including it not because of the wonderfulness of my parents’ union—they divorced—but because I think she looks so beautiful here. My mother is—cliche but true—a beautiful person both inside and out, a person whose only ambition for her children is that they be happy and make their own dreams come true. She charms people wherever she goes. I’ve been inspired by her independence, her engagement with the world, her humor, and her kindness. She took up meditation in her 70s. And—admirably—did not crater when my stepfather died, but stayed active and beyond lively: last New Year’s Eve, she went to three parties—that’s three more than me—and does not want for suitors, even though she’s got little interest in them. For over 30 years, she’s been my only parent: I haven’t always been easy, and she’s handled the worst that I can dish out with grace and dignity. I love her a lot, and you would too. She reads this blog every day, so join me in wishing her the best, won’t you?
Happiest of birthdays to your mom! I can relate – My mom has also been my only parent since her divorce from my dad- I was 20 at the time. So odd to have an absentee parent during adulthood, just when the parent-child bond should be evolving into mutual friendship, love, and respect. It’s a unique situation and my heart goes out to you. Kudos to our fabulous mamas.
Happy birthday, Eve!
Happiest Birthday, Eve!
Hope there are good friends and good wine involved…
From a fellow Gemini…..
What a lovely tribute! Happy Birthday from small town New Brunswick, Canada! May we all be as active and engaged as you, Eve!
Happy Birthday to your mother, I hope it’s a great day, year and decade for her!
You are so, so lucky – I love how you chose to honor and celebrate your mother! She’s an inspiration to us all in how to live life.
Happy Birthday, mom of Kim!!
Happy Birthday to the supportive, loving mother of Kim and wonderful woman in the world! So great to hear of loving, healthy mother-daughter relationships to counter all the negative stereotypes.
Happy Birthday Eve!
Kim, you are blessed to have such a mother!
Happy birthday, Eve, and may you have many more!
Happy birthday, Eve! I hope it’s the best one yet!
Happy 80th Eve! (Great name btw – it’s my sister’s too and I’ve always kinda wished it was mine :)) Wishing you a wonderful year ahead!
Such a beautiful post, Kim! Happiest of birthday, Eve! You are lucky to have one another.
Happy Birthday, Kim’s mom! Hope you have a wonderful day to kick off a great year (and decade!).
Happy birthday Eve!!
Have a beautiful, fun, lovely, divine day!!!
Happy Birthday Eve! What a wonderful eloquent tribute Kim. You are truly blessed to have such a wonderful mother. Like your stepfather my mother who I adored died 11 years ago of pancreatic cancer at the age of 63. I miss her every day and often wonder what our relationship would be now with me in my 50s and her in her 70s.
Happy birthday Eve!
Happy B-day, Eve! May your new year be filled with family, love and adventures.
Happy Birthday Eve! Although we’ve never met, I can truthfully say that my 47 year old self would like to be you when I grow up. :o) Cheers to you on your special day!
Happy, joyful birthday to you Eve! I wish you well,
Happy Birthday! My greatest wish is one day my children will be able to describe me so fondly.
Happy Birthday Eve! Kim is wonderful, and, after meeting you briefly at the first Clare V do, I can see where she gets it from. Enjoy your day.
Happy Birthday Eve!
Hope your day is full of love and laughter, family and friends, & cake and ice cream!
That’s a wonderful tribute. I’m the mom of a little Eve who always tells people she was the first woman on earth! It seems they are all a beautiful force of nature.
Happy Birthday Eve!
Bonne Fete from Montreal.
I am so inspired by the way you live your life Eve, especially since today is my birthday too. I raise a glass to you!
Happy birthday to you, too, Cat!
That was really lovely. Happy birthday to your wonderful mother!
Happy birthday, Eve! May you celebrate with family, friends and love. And to lovely daughter Kim, what a wonderful tribute to your mom.
Happy Birthday. May your year be filled with happiness, health and love.
One of my favorite photos ever posted on this blog is the one of “Elegant Eve” and her natty husband, Howard–so radiant, so alive! Images don’t tell us everything, but they say enough. That photo conveys a life well lived in all its complexity.
Have the happiest birthday ever, Eve. You raised a spectacular daughter: one of my faves among people I’ve never met (and likely never will). Enjoy this day and celebrate. Here’s to many, many more!
Your mom sounds awesome. Wishing her a happy happy birthday.
Happy birthday, Eve! Glow on!
Cheers to you, Eve! Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday, Miss Eve!!!!!!!
Happy birthday, Eve!
Happy, happy birthday to you Ms. Eve!
Happy Birthday, Eve! Can we get a guest post on her secret to staying charmed and charming?!
Happy birthday, Eve! I hope your day is wonderful!
I wish a very Happy Birthday to you Eve. <3
Happy Birthday Eve! Enjoy your day!
PS, your daughter is awesome 🙂
Happiest of birthdays to you, Eve. Hope your day is as fabulous as you are!
Cheers to you on your birthday, Eve!
Happy Birthday Eve! I was missing my mom today and I am so happy to wish Kim France’s mom a wonderful 80th!
Happiest of Birthdays, Eve!
I know you’ve had a big influence on your daughter.
Many more, happy returns!
<3
Happiest of birthday wishes to your wonderful mom. I am a huge fan of her jewelry, have several pieces (chain mail necklaces, I own four!), and wear them all the time. You are blessed with a supportive and loving mother. I am your age, lost my mother 17 years ago, and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her and wish I still had her. She sounds a lot like your mom (except for the jewelry designing talent). Cherish every day with her. You are both blessed to have each other. Nothing better than a supportive and loving mother, which I try each and every day to be for my three children. I’m grateful for the all too short time I had with my mom. Happiest of birthday wishes, beautiful Eve France. You have an awesome daughter.
🌸🎂Happy Birthday Eve!🌸🎂
Happy birthday 💗
Happy Birthday, Eve! You sound so interesting and you’ve also raised a smart, insightful, funny daughter. Great role models!
Happy 80th Eve, keep rockin’ it! All the best to you!
Milestone Birthday! Yea! Have fun and treat yourself to a whole year of rockin’ 80’s fun. Happy Birthday and best wishes for a year full of pleasant diversions and unexpected merrymaking!
And it looks like the apple didn’t fall from the tree… Happy Birthday Eve!
Happy birthday mom of Kim….all the best
happy birthday!
I met your mother once, some twenty years ago, and was charmed by her vivacity and gracefulness (I was already smitten with her jewelry!). enjoy your celebrations!
Happy birthday! Independent, charming, funny, engaged, beautiful, supportive and kind. I guess you can add children who obviously adore you and that makes eight incredible achievements… one for every decade. Have a wonderful birthday!
Happy Birthday, Eve! You sound like an amazing person.
Happy Birthday Eve! I’m so glad I learned about you by reading this blog, and hope you have a wonderful celebration of your new milestone!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy, happy birthday wishes – so inspiring to know how you are sharing yours with love and grace and passion!
Wishing the happiest of birthdays to Ms. Eve, the reportedly lovely & undoubtedly lucky mother to the ultimate GOACA. Wishing you to 120!
Happy birthday, Eve!
Happiest of days to you, Eve!
Happy birthday Eve!
happy birthday eve! i love your jewelry & as you can tell-we are all wild about your daughter.
Happiest of birthday wishes, Eve!
happy birthday! meditation at 70 grace dignity and love. such inspiration. you have an amazing daughter who it seems is just like you
Wishing you a very happy birthday, Ms. Eve!
Happy Birthday! What a lovely tribute to your mother.
She sounds fabulous! Happy, happy birthday Eve! I just had a birthday too, I can’t believe how old I am; I’ll bet you’re the same. <3
Happy Birthday, Eve! Thank you for producing such a cool daughter.
All hail, Eve, maker of Kim! We are forever grateful.
I hope you have the loveliest birthday ever.
Happy Birthday, Eve! I’m closer in age to you than to many of the GOACA who follow Kim. I wish you good health and many years of joy.
I’m happy to join all who have stopped here to wish you the happiest of birthdays. I have such fond memories of you in our salad days. So glad to see your spark shining bright. Be well and enjoy many, many days of celebration.
Happy Belated Birthday Eve!
What a beautiful picture, and even though you didn’t stay together, you guys were both gorgeous. Wow.
I would have written yesterday but yesterday is also my seven-year-old’s birthday. Now eight. When you’re 54, it’s hard to keep track.
Remember we get to celebrate our birthdays all week, because that’s the fun way to celebrate. 🙂
Happy Birthday Eve!!!!
Happy Belated Birthday Eve! Felicidades
Happy Happy birthday Eve! Wishing you the best of everything!
A belated Happy Birthday and best wishes.
Cool parents raise cool kids. Happy birthday to your trail-blazing mamma. We all stand on the shoulders of giants like her who took it on the chin during the dawning of the women’s movement. Wishing her a fantastic 80th!
XXXXX! Muah!!
Timeless (because I don’t always check in) wishes for a great year to a timeless beauty.