Mother's Day

Some things in life we get to choose: spouses, friends, insane Yorkies that yip at everything but seemed so darn cute when they were puppies we not only got one, but two (look at that, a tangent in the first sentence - that might be a record). Other things we have no control over. Like our mothers.

I am one of the lucky ones. I got a great mother. My 14-year old self would likely not concur, she would much rather slam a door and ask if I was crazy to say such a thing, but thankfully one is only 14 for a year. My mom was a natural parent ~ perhaps a side-effect of being the eldest of 4 siblings ~ but she also did what some mothers have a hard time doing ~ she transitioned from being the parent of a child to being the parent of an adult. Though, she does still tell me to go take naps. (I am much more agreeable to that now than when I was little.)  It is a wonderful thing to have a mom who is also your friend.

Given current circumstances, I worry about her. I know what it is like to know your daughter is going to die. I know how heartbreaking that is ~ to be willing to do anything, anything to change her fate and not having the power to do so. I know the agony that comes when you lose your daughter. I know how hard it can seem to even breathe after that.

But I also know that my strength was something I learned, and I learned it in large part from watching how strong my mother was as I grew up. She is surrounded by many great people: my dad, her friends, Kelly, my boys, my brother...but I know that her strength, her will, her heart will help her through whatever is to come.

I love you mom...always.