ROSE

Rose-wanted to tell you how grateful I am for you today. I have been thinking of you all day. I have always admired how you treat people- you treat everyone like they are gold- all the Judys, the Pat meehans, the Vicky Chins, everyone is drawn to you because you are truly kind and always find value in every person, especially people who don’t get that from many other people. You exemplify a democratic love of everyone. I don’t know anyone with a kinder nature than you, and it inspires me to try and be nicer to the people around me.

You are such a great teacher, Mom, I love being your kid because you are always up for projects-from carved apples shrunken in the oven to look like witches’ heads to annual hoot owl cookie baking, to late night school assignments on making a rat trap power a car. I remember you teaching me about how to fluff up the flour before you measure it, and once it was in the measuring cup to gently mix up the flour on top of the cup with the back of a knife and slide it off, pour it into the mixer in the middle so it make a little Hershey kiss of flour on the swirling Bosch center.

You always give so freely of your time. As a child, I never realized how much you made yourself available for us. I remember lots of times standing talking with you while you were getting ready, putting your makeup on, crimping your eyelashes with that metal flattened-scissor looking thing, or removing it at night with toilet paper and Vaseline. You never even got to go to the bathroom alone! You were always so open and willing to sign off Webelos stars while I told you about the safety basics of swimming, or bear the noise of me singing you songs from the Little Mermaid or just listen to some stupid story about what Jesse and Jacob said at the bus stop. Mom, you are endlessly giving of yourself, supportive of me, and just so facilitating in every way-all the rides to and from FPS or soccer, or skiing, or the choir concerts, the early morning runs in Minnesota, those times when I’m sure you could have used some peace and quiet, you are always open to company and listening and talking. I know I took that for granted and it’s only when I’ve gotten older that I’ve understood that the kind of love and support you give is not a given for a lot of people. Lots of people don’t have someone who is so consistently on their side. I’m so grateful for that now.

I also want to say thank you for everything I never even thought to thank you for- all the lasagnas you baked, the socks you matched, the forms you filled out, and the nice prayers you said for me-please know how much these things mean to me, mom-I love you so much and feel so lucky and proud to be your son. I am so glad we were able to spend time together last month, I love getting to you know more as I get older, and although I don’t see you very often, I daily think of you and how you would respond to situations to help me with my choices, and I often find myself falling back on the confidence you still show in me. You are the things I want to be-loving, funny, smart, and kind.

Most of all, I am so glad you let me call you Rose, even though I know it's difficult sometimes. I love you mom. Happy Mother’s Day.