Mom

I can remember far back enough that your hair was long, curly and as big as your personality. If I close my eyes I can smell m&m's, diet coke, paper and dried ink. I can hear music that'll never ever leave me and still feeds my soul when the mood hits me to run it back. Bryan Adams, Gloria Estefan, the Beach Boys, Phil Collins, and Whitney will always remind me of you.

I remember that little smile you gave when you would smoke me on the tennis court. It was a little bit arrogance cuz you knew you were good. And a little bit pride cuz you knew I would beat you really soon. Of course, you followed it up with so much encouragement that I thought I was the next Andre Agassi. You prolly thought I could if I wanted to.

Memories are some of the funniest things. The older I get the more precious they are. In my youth, we made a score of rough ones together and I made sure that you knew about it. But you did what mama's do. You prayed, listened, loved and waited. And by God’s grace here we are all these years later. Your one of my closest friends and dare i say it...maybe even my favorite drinking buddy. We've had some of the best conversations and solved all the world's problems with a mason jar in hand. I love our time on a porch and hope we're setting the standard for the next generation in our family.

Your old mom. Your hair isn't long and curly. You can't play tennis anymore. And you prolly can't use your fancy pens as well as you used to. But you are absolutely on fire to do the things that God puts on your heart to do. You work, serve, and live with a smile on your face and a generous spirit. And one day when I’m an old man…I promise to remember your example.

I love you mom.