My mother’s day

Today was very nice. Holly gave me a pedicure and colored my hair. She and Dan bought me a set of salt and pepper shakers from Iraq and Holly cooked baked ham, potato salad and white beans for supper. Nicole gave me her special homemade Mother’s Day cards with a hand drawing of myself with a big smile on my face and big eyes twinkling. It truly amazes me when I see myself through Nicole’s eyes…and all that love makes me feel deeply! Stacy drove in to bring me a beautiful bouquet of flowers with a large chocolate heart. Maria called and wished me a Happy Mother’s Day and to say they will be here next Friday to stay the weekend. Then to top all of that Ken brought me a live trellis plant to remember Mother’s Day year after year. I called my own mother early this morning to wish her a Happy Mother’s Day too. Each breath she takes is a struggle and I know each year I have her is a blessing because her health is so bad. My cousins voiced their thoughts about their mother in heaven, as well as many of my friends sharing their loss ….thinking about what they would do if only they had one more day with their moms. Another cousin said she felt the urge to hug an older lady today….just because she needed it. I remember my mother braiding my hair so tightly that I just knew I was Chinese for many years.

However, the most important part of my day was spent with Holly this year. She and I laughed about all the things we remembered about growing up with me as her mom. I remembered the many times we were driving in the car and she would see something and scream for my attention…causing me to slam on the brakes because I thought something was wrong. We talked about school and her childhood friends and escapades…some of which I knew nothing about …but yet knew somehow. She told Stephen to eat his beans and they argued over it…and she said when she was his age she ate what was put in front of her with no argument…and that I wouldn’t let her argue. I remember driving her to school and singing to her in the car….her begging me to stop yet continued to sing. She remembered that oh so well. I have so many memories of each day she has lived on this earth and the road we both have travelled to get us to the relationship we now have together. Both of us have planted yucca plants under Stephen and Nicole’s bedroom windows…because we know how difficult it will be when they become teenagers to climb out their windows with pointy yucca plants in the way. Tomorrow Holly and I will go to her pre-op for her surgery on Thursday. This will be the very first time she will have surgery. Together we will do this…just like together we have travelled her life. The hours went by fast this Mother’s Day as we talked and talked and talked. I will cherish this day forever!