Happy Mother's Day

Being a mother isn't hard; being a good mother is. I have always tried to be a good mother, but since my mother died young and I had my children when I was young myself I basically learned as I went. My aunt Jean took us in when my mother died, and even though I busted out of the house as fast as I could, she always mothered me with love tempered with regret that her sister wasn't alive to handle me and my wild ways. I'll never forget what a momentous gift she gave me when I got married at 17 - a sewing machine. I used that machine for years and years - and the quality and expense of it spoke volumes to me. My boys are now 33 and 31. They are married, have their own families, challenging work, wonderful friends. And they seem to still want to be around me, which I find thrilling. We all call each other frequently, visit often, and are very much a part of each others' lives. I can't even believe my good fortune in the family I have. So, Mom, if you can hear me, thank you for giving me life, and love, and everything you had to give for the time you had to give it. And thank you, Adam and Phil, for being the most wonderful sons I could ask for. I am a Happy Mother today.