Don’t make her blow out the candles.
Maybe ask for a card shower? Put ad in the Celebrations/Society pages a couple weeks ahead of the date (in the location where she lives and anywhere she might have lived for some length of time) and ask people to send birthday cards to her at an address you provide.
/johnny
I think you could write the White House and President Obama will send her a card with his own signature on it
That way she can keep her conversations direct and personal, but a big fuss can be made by everyone at the appropriate time.
I was going to say you could hire 70 year old Geraldo Rivera as a stripper but I decided that would be too crude, so I won’t mention it here.
I’ve gotten a series of ‘old-timey’ pictures that are going around. Would she enjoy seeing pictures of how things were in her youth? Maybe music from that era?
If I happen to make it to 100, I’ll be happy with lots and lots of chocolate. But that’s good every year!
Photo Album. Photo album record of the day.
This might be controversial but you can request the President send a birthday card. My friend who turned 100 had a complaint about the day. It was way too busy, too much stimuli for one day. They had a carry in dinner at her complex, then all her family came, many people brought her food, more than could be eaten. So I would say avoid over planning.
But the photo albums she went through every day.
The day before, send a pedicurist over. That’s always a treat.
Keep it simple. Before hand, make up two photo albums....one going as far back as you have pictures and another with a picture of each person who will be there, with a personal note from each and something about them. If you can, write a short biography, with events from her life and world events, cutltural things, and inventions at each point.
You need to hire mimes for the entertainment...
Throw a party to celebrate the significant events and people at the time of her birth and each decade afterward.
No suggestions, but wish her a Happy Birthday! That is an achievement. Ask her to tell you about her favorite times. I guess that is a suggestion.
Can members of the family wish her Happy Birthday on a video?
You can get a Presidential card but I think you need several months lead time.
My mother lived to 102. Born 1900, passed away 2002. Part of 3 centuries.
We were able to get most of the family together for her 100th.
You can get her a 100th satin sash and a tiara. Maybe a bouquet, like “Queen for the Day.” Also, call the facility where she is, and ask for suggestions. Local newspapers sometimes will come and take a photo. Not many make it to 100, it should be a big deal.
wow, invite me! I’ve never met a person that was 100 years old before.
With all of our digital communication tools, you are in luck for creating the perfect birthday card for her. Get all of her children, grandchildren, etc. to send you a short clip of themselves saying something wonderful about her.
You can give them starters like:
My favorite memory of Grandma is...
Nobody can do ___ like she does.
Or they can just say something like, “I wish I could be there to tell you in person how much I love you.”
Get all of this together in one presentation along with some special still photos with great captions.
If her hearing is okay with just one person at a time, you can just play it for her and sit with her. If necessary, you could get it close captioned, I guess. (Not really too technically advanced here.)
Anyway, this would be a great birthday “card” for her to look at again and again.
You are so blessed to still have your mother at this age. It’s a shame you have to be so far from her. I really miss my dear mother, who passed away in 2007 about 6 weeks shy of her 95th.
Safe travels to you.
If there is some celebrity or famous personage she likes, don’t be afraid to solicit a congratulary message from them. You don’t reach 100 every day, you know.
Don’t forget music that she remembers. If she is a Christian old gospel or bluegrass tunes may bring joy to her heart. If she danced, what music did they play when she was dating?
Music is always a wonderful backdrop to any occasion. It brings back many memories.
-PJ