Happy Birthday Cindy

Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!

A 70th Birthday Song for Cindy

[Verse 1 — Warm, nostalgic]

Three boys came first, and then came Cindy
The youngest of four, with a life of her own
Years went by, and the world got bigger
So many places, so many roads

She never lost that sense of wonder
Never ran out of things to say
And if there’s someone she hasn’t met yet
She’ll probably meet them today

[Chorus]

Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!
That’s how the conversations start
Seventy years and a thousand stories
And room for a thousand more
Another friend, another adventure
Another road she’s never tried
Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!
What a wonderful ride

[Verse 2 — Remember that dog?]

Remember that time in Costa Rica
When I was riding shotgun with you?
There was a dog we had to rescue
And we knew just what to do

A scarf around her head, an old lady disguise
We made our getaway with our passenger inside
And back at home, there’s a yard full of dogs
A yard full of love, and room for one more

[Verse 3 — And then there was Yolanda]

And then there was the time Cindy met Yolanda
By the pineapples at the farmers market one day
A little talk about Costa Rican fruit
And another friendship was underway

Before you knew it, invitations were flying
And Facebook kept the friendship going strong
Lara says, “Mom, you’ve gotta stop talking to people!”
But Cindy’s been making friends all along

[Chorus]

Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!
That’s how the conversations start
Seventy years and a thousand stories
And room for a thousand more
Another friend, another adventure
Another road she’s never tried
Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!
What a wonderful ride

[Bridge — Warm and reflective]

She and Gerry found each other
With lives and families already grown
Two daughters each, a family together
And so much love to call their own

Her girls are always close beside her
Two grandsons bring another kind of joy
And the life she shared with Gerry
Is a love that time can’t destroy

A lifetime spent in medicine
With a curious and caring mind
Always ready with an answer
Always giving someone time

[Verse 4 — Remember that restaurant in San José?]

And remember that restaurant in San José
When Katie and her mother sat nearby?
We started talking across the tables
Just saying hello as the time went by

One conversation turned into another
And soon they were visiting at your place
Katie said, “You look like Bubba and Sissy!”
And those names have stayed with us to this day

[Final Chorus — Joyful]

Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!
That’s how the conversations start
Seventy years and a thousand stories
And room for a thousand more
Another friend, another adventure
Another road she’s never tried
Hola Sissy! Hola Bubba!
What a wonderful ride

[Outro — Gentle, playful]

Fifteen years and a thousand phone calls
And the greeting hasn’t changed

“Hola Sissy!”
“Hola Bubba!”

Happy seventieth, Sissy.
Love you.