My mom

Wow after crying my eyes out and writing a long reflective post about my mom, and the one year anniversary of her passing…my firefox (foxfire as she called it) froze thus erasing everything I wrote. So I’m afraid to say I have no energy at this point to write the post again.

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I gave you a hug, my mom. I can’t believe it’s been so long since you called me Daniel (you are one of a few). I can’t believe it’s been so long since we went for a long walk at Winton Woods, and you gave me challenging, growth encouraging advice. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I heard you squeal with excitement at the site of a turtle, a gold finch, or a beautiful flower. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last heard you tell me you loved me, and you were so proud of me. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last heard you say…”Just do what makes you happy, the rest will take care of itself.”

Well I’m trying my best mom. I have to admit not having you around makes that last one a lot more difficult because I sure miss you a lot. I still can’t believe I can’t pick up the phone and call you. I struggle without my guide, my mom, and my best friend. I know somehow you’re still with me, and I know that nothing will ever take away our wonderful times together.

I can’t believe it’s been a year…I guess what they say is true, life does go on, but for me the feelings and memories never go away. I miss you mom.

What I wrote last year…

Some pics:

I love this picture…I remember taking it, it was one of the first times she met Julie. We came down from Miami, and her, julie and I went for a long walk at Winton Woods. We were fascinated by that huge hole in the tree and she went back to get a look, which is when I took this. It’s really a great summary of her mood whenever we went to Winton Woods. I loved those walks.

I love this picture, you can see the childlike excitement she lived with.

This was written by her those who she worked with, who she touched deeply.

This is really the best way to describe my mom’s academic career…I think this may have been her LOWEST grade in all the classes she took in pursuit of all of her degrees…

I love this picture.  She always made birthdays, holidays, even weekends special.

Andrea and Tom enjoy the view from mom’s bench, with her tulip tree to their left. The bench and the tree were donated in her memory by her friends. She loved tulip tree’s (of course what kind of trees didn’t she love?)

After she passed away Andrea found this poster board that my mom had made…It was a comforting, beautiful reminder that things really are ok