Mom

Even though she never went to college, she watches Jeopardy each night and gets all the answers right. Even though she never had the need for a passport, she can talk about foreign cities as if she grew up there as a young girl. Even though she bore seven children into this world, she never lost her form and figure. Even though she reads practically every book on the New York Times Best Sellers List, she still finds time to read my amateurish drivel and brags about how much she likes them. Even though she was raised in a strict Catholic environment, she easily and lovingly accepted my brother’s announcement, and somehow convinced my ex-Marine father to do the same, when he came out of the closet. Even though she knew nothing about what was happening on the mat, she attended all my high school wrestling matches and hers was the only voice I could hear, much to my coach’s chagrin, amongst all the shouting and cheers. Even though she had never worked a day in her life, she got a job as an accountant at fifty years of age when my father was laid up for a while. The owners of the company loved her so much they did not want her to go once my father was back on his feet again. Even though she says her mother never made her do a domestic chore when she was growing up, she maintains an impeccably clean home and is the most wondrous of cooks. Even though she took care of seven kids all week while my father worked all day, she always let him play golf on Saturdays or lounge around on the couch should the weather not cooperate. Even though she now has twelve grandchildren, she treats each one as being special and displays a knowledgeable interest in the unique skills each one possesses. Even though she turns eighty in one month, she has not heard this son tell her he loves her enough… Mom, I love you very much. Thank you for being you. Entry in the Mother contest.