I love you Mom!

I give full credit to my parents for making me who I am.
They are awesome people.

But as this is Mother's Day - I have to give special props to Mom on her special weekend. Last year was the first time I paid tribute to Mom - but really, how can you stop at just one?

My Mom knows how much I love her. I think she would even tell you - she never has to worry that we don't have a great, loving relationship.

We are very demonstrative of our love for each other and always mangage to laugh and have tons of fun together.

I certainly consider her to be one of my favorite people, even though we couldn't be more different.

I am a fan of sunblock. As I am pale and pasty - (a complexion I get from my Mother!!!) I like to protect my skin. Mom however, likes to douse herself in Baby Oil or some toxic tanning solution called Maui Gold. You can see from the photo - the woman didn't even put a hat on her infant child at the beach! I'm squinting and looking like a special needs child. Mom - what kind of skin damage happened to me that day?

I don't think we ever mutually agree on what looks or is good. Be it clothing choices, hairstyles, music, movies or decorating choices. When I think something is fabulous - My Mom says, "oh, that's different" (key phrase for I hate everything about it)

I pretty much made fun of every outfit Mom put me in as a child. She did terrible things to my hair in the 70's. Bad perms, terrible barrette placement and she used to hit me on the head with the brush.

Even though I say we have different taste in music, she is the reason I love bad music. All I have to do is hear a few bars of Burt Bacharach or the 5th Dimension and I am singing along and thinking of my Mom.

Mom hates Edward. She doesn't get Twilight. When I determined that all mature women were on Team Edward, and all teenage girls were on Team Jacob - she bucked the system and went for Team Jacob. She doesn't even know Edward is a vampire.... she thinks it's a book about witches. She doesn't always pay attention to the details....but that's ok, I still love her.

Each time I come home, I inevitably have to make some sort of change to the house. Mom loves to inject tacky occasionally - If I had any sense of style as a young child - this furniture would not have lasted long.

And despite all of our differences - Mom is still my best friend.

Mom is always tolerant of me. Even though I give her a terrible time and make fun of her. She has always been right by my side and the best support. As mothers should, she loves me no matter what and let's me be me. We share as much now as we did when it was just the two of us - with Dad far away at sea.

As an adult now, I can't tell you how much I appreciate having a Mom that still remains proud of me and gives the best advice and support.

Mom continues to remind me all the time how important it is to love deeply and laugh often.

Thanks for teaching me how to be joyful, have fun and reminding me to laugh at myself.