Last Letter to My Mom

From frivolous musings on TV, video games and movies to mourning about my ailing mother. Wow, this blog has everything. My favorite person in the world is slipping away and I'm sitting here watching her go. I think my original intent for this blog was to create an ongoing tribute to my own mediocrity. I may be mediocre, but my mom isn't; no matter what anyone says. Seriously, I will fight you if you call my mom mediocre. Unless you did it in the comments and then I would simply delete your stupid comment.
I digress. My mom is extraordinary. I think by and large most people would consider their mother extraordinary and my sympathy goes out to anyone not blessed with having such an amazing woman in their life. But I want to talk about how my mother is extraordinary.
Despite having only one year of college, my mom is incredibly educated. She was so well prepared to raise her six children. She cooked, cleaned, and took care of us. Took care of us isn't the right phrase. She nurtured us. She wasn't a maid. She wasn't our servant. She was a loving parent willing to sacrifice for her children. You see, my siblings and I were her most prized possession.
Her mother had taught her how to cut hair. I don't think I ever went to a barber until I was nineteen. She was talented with a sewing machine. I can't count the number of blankets she made for her kids and later her grandkids. She learned how to make an array of household items. She could make bread, jam, soap, lotion, and toothpaste among other things. We had over a years worth of canned fruits and vegetables in our basement thanks to her.
Some may scoff and say these are all domesticated skills and that somehow they are less respectable than those of a woman who made a career for herself. My response is that the things she did for us kids are more important and will have longer lasting consequences than most of the decisions some CEO will make. Jobs really only make you money. Motherhood makes families.
Besides, my mother has her own fair share of career accomplishments. She has worked as a school music teacher, a bank loan officer, a real estate agent and she has been the head of the financial department for a school for disabled children for the past six years. She has a fairly impressive resume for a woman with only one year of college.
Another reason my mom was so extraordinary to me is for her musical ability. She and my father both have impressive singing voices and together they cultivated a love of music in each of their children. Music is one of the most important things in my life and I owe that love to my mother.
Finally, my mother is extraordinary to me because of the love she has shown me for my entire life. I know that she would be willing to help me whenever possible, regardless of how troublesome it might be for her. I think of the many, many times she has stepped in to help me clean up some mess I have gotten myself into and I know that only a mother who loves her son more than herself would do that.
I love you Mom. You are my favorite person in this world. It breaks my heart to see you go, but I know I'll see you again someday. Goodbye, Mom*.


*In case you're wondering, I have cried a few times.