Happy birthday, Pa and Mary!

Both born on the same calendar day, but Pa was born in 1836 and daughter Mary, in 1865.
Anyone who has read Laura's books knows that the family members enjoyed their family bonds. And we can get the impression that Mary was her Ma's favorite child, while Laura was Pa's favorite.  But Laura had the advantage and privelege of having a special bond with both Mary and her Pa.

Laura probably spent more time with her mother, but there was a special bond between her and Pa.  Much of her thinking about life came from him.  But she didn't always agree with him on everything.  I wonder if her opinions changed on some of those disagreements as she got older.

Laura owed much of her writing skills to Mary, because she had to learn how to describe things to Mary, who went blind at age 14 years.

Aren't you glad that Laura wrote about her sister and her father?

I wonder how the family celebrated birthdays.  Laura didn't have much to say about the subject.  Do you think they all had birthday parties?

I think Laura had Pa and Mary in mind when she said, "The way to success and a broad, beautiful outlook on life more often than not leads over obstacles and up a stiff climb before we reach the hilltop."
So today we celebrate the memory of these two, who Laura immortalized.
Happy birthday, Charles Ingalls and Mary Ingalls!  The Old Man in the Bib Overalls