Silly Family Traditions
@GardenGerty (161216)
United States
October 1, 2019 5:16pm CST
A very long time ago, I bought my mom a helium filled birthday balloon.
It had Hippo Birdie 2 Ewe on it. That balloon lasted forever. It also gave birth to a family silly.
Many of us, when greeting others on their birthday, choose this silly animal greeting.
I just found out, it was originally a greeting card by children's author Sandra Boynton. I included an image of her card.
I see you can still buy it online.
That silly shared family tradition makes us feel closer, and it makes us remember my mom.
Today my niece is 48. I of course greeted her. And it gave birth to this discussion.
14 people like this
14 responses
@BarBaraPrz (47846)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
2 Oct 19
Oh, I love Sandra Boynton's stuff. I have a little mug with a little bear and "Bless your fuzzy little heart" on it, and somewhere I have a pin with 5 rats and the word "RATS!" on it. And often, I'll use the Hippo Birdie Two Ewes greeting in emails.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
2 Oct 19
She is great. My grand kids have a number of her books.
1 person likes this
@anhsy1011 (56)
• China
1 Oct 19
On my birthday, my daughter often gave me a little gift made by herself.Maybe the gifts are not valuable, but I love them all.
2 people like this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16805)
• China
3 Oct 19
That is a really fond memory that you have ! I guess that the Hippo ,Birdie and Ewe are mascots over there.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
7 Oct 19
When you combine them in a phrase it sounds like you are saying "happy (hippo) birdie (birthday) 2 ewe (to you). Kind of a play on words. Over here it seems like almost anything becomes a mascot.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16805)
• China
8 Oct 19
@GardenGerty Thank you for telling me that !I haven't thought that it meant "Happy birthday to you !"
@stringer321 (5644)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
2 Oct 19
It reminds me about a helium balloons my nephew had 2 years ago, those balloons survived 1 month, floating upward to the ceiling, I used to slap them or tie a small toy to their string and show my nephew how they float upward. That was so nice.
What are those 2 ewes btw? They look like sheep.
The bird reminds me Woodstock, the friend of Snoopy the dog.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
7 Oct 19
You are right, ewes are female sheep. Helium ballons provide a lot of entertainment.
1 person likes this
@stringer321 (5644)
• Kiryat Ata, Israel
7 Oct 19
@GardenGerty thanks for the clarification.
Do you have games you play in the family or maybe game consoles like Wii...?
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
7 Oct 19
They become private ways to communicate our fondness and memories.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472251)
• Switzerland
7 Oct 19
@GardenGerty It is something we only know in the family, it's funny.
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
2 Oct 19
It kind of sticks with you once you hear it.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
2 Oct 19
aw, how sweet ~ i love 't :) jest makes ya smile seein' such. love that y'all've kept that tradition.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
7 Oct 19
Traditions mean a lot for a family.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
7 Oct 19
My family has always tended to "play with words". Good way to share smiles.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
2 Oct 19
Sandra Boynton writes lots of cute kids books, but this greeting really stuck with a number of us.
@GardenGerty (161216)
• United States
2 Oct 19
Yes, I have two adult nieces who especially enjoy the smiles.
1 person likes this
