Dear Mom,
I want to thank you for having me, first of all. I was just thinking some of the many wonderful things that we’ve experienced through the years. I wanted to tell you how lucky I feel every day that you’ve been a part of my life. I can’t imagine having a more wonderful mom.
I love your easy going, no nonsense style. I like that you don’t beat around the bush and are direct and matter of fact about what you have to say. I love how you are kind enough to listen to each of your kids when they have something to say, even if you might not feel like it. I love how you remember your grandchildren and am thankful that they are able to know you. I’m thankful that you went back to work to send your kids to good schools.
I’ll never forget that clickety clack noise on the hallway tile when you were running down it late for work. I appreciate all those hand written recipes you wrote for us when you went back to work, which got me interested in cooking. I’ll bet you still remember when I was making a cake and half the batter leaked out because I put the insert of the pan in crooked.
I’m glad that you taught all of us to do the laundry and clean, including my brother. Even though they are not my favorite things to do, I can appreciate having clothes that aren’t dirty and a relatively shiny home. It helped me to understand that we all have to pitch in and be a part of the family. Even though I thought you didn’t look cool, I give you credit for not caring what anyone thought when you went out with curlers on your head.
I’m thankful for all of those glorious days we spent on the beach when we were growing up. Every time I am at the beach, it brings back so many of those cherished memories. I think it’s awesome how close you were and are to your family and how you keep up with your siblings. I’m amazed that I never saw you and dad fight. I don’t know if you just never did, or if you were just exceptionally good at keeping it from your kids. I think it’s awesome that you still hold hands with dad, and can only hope that I remain as happy as you both are in my own marriage.
I think it was great that you took us out for fun, even when we didn’t have a lot of cash. I thought going for rides to see the airport, watching the boats docking and undocking, an afternoon of bowling or just going for a Sunday drive for some ice cream were pleasant and happy memories. I really looked forward to watching movie night and watching those wonderfully campy home movies through the years. There’s nothing like reliving some of those classic moments rolling on film. Who could ever forget those ridiculous Dawn dolls falling over every time they spun round their stage? Spin. Spin. Spin. Plunk. Straighten ‘er out. Spin. Spin. Spin. Plunk. Straighten ‘er out. Spin. Spin. Spin. Plunk. Seeing my brother burst into tears when the toy tank rolled up his leg or the horror on his face when he realized that the ocean wasn’t just cool, but it could knock you over, too?
Thanks for letting me be independent for as long as I can remember. From picking out my own clothes to wear as a little person, doing what I wanted with my allowance, allowing us to ride our bikes around the neighborhood, to letting me galavant to center city on my own–even if it made you nervous. Thanks for making me do my homework first thing before I could do anything else. It taught me that if I work hard to get done what needed to be done, I’d have my own time to do what I wanted to do.
Yes, I still remember that you told my sister Kathy not to dye in the washing machine. Of course it sounded like die, and was incredibly funny to hear you yelling it to her. I will always remember you trying to convince Aunt Carole to hang out longer by offering her some really nice ham. Seriously? A pound of lunchmeat would get her to stay? Of course she did, but I’m sorry to break it to you that it probably was NOT the nice ham.
Aren’t you glad that when I wasn’t feeling well one day, I hurled into the tablecloth next your scrabble game, and not on top of it? I adored spending the Sundays before Christmas shopping, girl bonding and of course going out to dinner. Yes, I still remember when you scraped the railing of the Tacony Bridge as we were driving by because we were joking and laughing about something–at least we didn’t crash! I can still picture the look on your face when the trooper pulled you over on the way home from Penn State because we had so much stuff crammed into the car, the rear window was obscured–and thanks officer for letting her off with a warning.
Am thankful for all of your steadfast support through all of my difficult pregnancies and the first days home with Tommy. Will never forget what an angel baby Timmy was while you were here after he was born, and how he burst into inconsolable screaming for hours, literally, as you pulled out of the driveway.
I treasure all of our quality time together on the phone, and endless rounds of scrabble on facebook. I appreciate you letting us drag you around on our vacations together so that we can spend some much needed quality time together with our familes. I know I can not even come close to recording all of the wonderful things about you that bring a smile to my face. There are just too many.
So, thanks mom, just for being you. For you mom, are one of the reasons that I am who I am today, and for that I am grateful.
Love,
Daughter