Mom–the word conjures up memories, feelings, longings, blessings, and sometimes regrets or grief.

On the most difficult of days, sometimes, I wish I could just call up my Mom or step in the next room and collapse on her bed with my burdens from the day. My Mom was a good listener. I was her only child, though, which made it easier for her to accomplish this. But this was really my Mom’s heart. She was a good listener for everyone and treasured by many relatives.

Mom was my shopping partner on many days when friends weren’t available or I just didn’t want to shop alone. The curse of being an only child. She also liked to travel with me. As I lost my Dad at 16, Mom and I grew even closer together. Capturing my Dad’s escapades of taking drives on Sundays, Mom and I would set out in my car and sometimes just drive through towns, drinking in the floral beauty and the homes. Then we would turn around and come back.

We even took long weekend trips with my friends, some capturing the most hysterical moments in our lives. Something quirky usually happened that caused us all to laugh. Once Mom opened a hotel door to find a blank wall. Us gals in the car were so tired we thought it hysterical to walk into a wall. Then there was the time she was called “Mother Superior” by our waiter–you know, the mother along with all of her young girls.  And there was the time after our first child came along and she went to Mothers’ Beach in California with us ladies and babies. The seagulls cruised Mom and left a present in her nest of hair. We all worked to clean that up!

But my most precious times were in her later years when my family was growing up and she was living with my husband and our two sons. She had major surgery and the days and months following always brought a new twist or turn to her health but nothing severe. There is no greater blessing than being able to care for your Mom and return the love you have received all of your life.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom. I still love you. Thank you for all you did to make me who I am today.

Participating in Five-Minute Friday at Kate Motaung’s today. This is meant to be an exercise to write for five minutes on the word of the week. No editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. I must admit that this week I went overtime. Too much to say in 5 min. And so much still left out.