This is a picture of our family many years ago (sorry Pat, nothing personal, but someone didn’t know how to center a photo). And here’s my mom in all her glory with the most beautiful blond hair I had ever seen in my life.

Thanks Mom. For everything you did to help me to learn and grow up to be a decent human being. Thank you for showing me in reality that sometimes you just have to get through something. To survive it. And while, sure, it’s best to hold your head up and say it won’t crush you, it’s also okay to say "this sucks!" and keep going. And if my Momma can say that and still appreciate life and the beauty in it, I suppose I can too.

Thank you Mom and Happy Mother’s Day. And if you are a mother (birth, bio, adoptive, foster, still trying, pregnant, step, or a woman who has been a mother figure) I hope your day is good. I hope you enjoy today especially. I hope you see a movie, take a nap, enjoy a walk, or get to do whatever it is that makes you happy. You deserve it this day and every other day too.