Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today, my mom, Edie Wood, celebrates the 50th anniversary of her 20th birthday.

She grew up in a world of homemade costumes and living room productions—her mother would sew creations for her and her siblings, and they’d bring characters to life right there at home. That spark of theater and imagination became a thread throughout her life, and it’s something she passed along to me. My own love of the stage, of storytelling, and of stepping into someone else’s shoes traces back to her influence.

Some of my fondest memories are of her at the piano, filling our home with music, or gathered around the table playing card games that always got a little too competitive in a fun way. Family movie nights weren’t just about the film—they were about the togetherness she created, complete with popcorn and sliced apples.

Seventy years is no small milestone. It represents decades of stories, creativity, and connections that ripple far beyond her.

So today, I want to say: Happy Birthday, Mom.

Thank you for the ways you shaped me and for the gifts of music, laughter, and theater that still live in me.