It took Mum-Mum three tries 
to blow out her birthday candles 
in this her 103rd year 
“Oh now I won’t get my wish” she said 
She held her great-granddaughter 
and didn’t blink 
as the baby spit up on her shirt 
which already had a stain 
“Well at least I wore the perfect shirt” she said 
Later we all took pictures of her 
surrounded by each member of the family 
She squinted as if she didn’t know 
where to look. My mother said 
she must have been looking for a camera.