Amber was determined to not grow old. She enjoyed her energy, youth, and looks too much to give them up over something as wasteful as aging. It was not that she was going to age gracefully, or some other such pithy nonsense. She was going to be the hot mom when Erik entered high school. She was always going to be hot, and she was living in the now. I could not blame her. We all give in to vanity at some level or another.
One might think that the emphasis she placed on physical appearances would make her seem vain and superficial. When you got to know her really well, she was not. She really was beautiful on the inside, and that was what shown through. ...and young, and energetic. She was -- is all of these envious traits, and more. On her birthday, it truly was a celebration of life, living, and love.
I did not bring up the topic of her birthday, and was not surprised when Erik did. He is always doing that -- reading minds -- especially if you thought too long or hard on a single subject. Perhaps he overheard it yesterday or someone thoughtfully reminded him recently, but he asked me yesterday, "Dad, how old is Mommy in heaven?" To which I replied, "Son, she is forever young."