I know that you hate pictures but I really LIKE both of these…..YES! I went there and disclosed your age because you DEFINITELY don’t look it.
Let me tell you a little about this AWESOME woman that I get to all mom.
Growing up, Mom was always there. Our home was always open to my friends – I mean we were the house to go to after a basketball game or when there was no place else to go. The frig was always stocked, the rec room was always ready and sleeping bags were always handy if someone needed to crash for the night. I may not have always been thrilled but looking back, I am so grateful. Grateful that I could pick up the phone and say – I am on my way with 2, 10, 25 or more people. There was never a hesitation even if she was headed to bed. After my Junior Prom, my parents made breakfast for over 300 kids. Yes, the parade of non-stop kids through the house was a little more than this teenager was ready for but mom stood strong. I mean who wants to ALWAYS hang at your own house,right?
As I left for college there were struggles. Freshman year, my parents divorced and it wasn’t easy. I was in Rhode Island while mom was home holding down the fort. Scrimping pennies to make sure that I had a home to come back to. They were tough years but we had fun. She would travel to Rhode Island for a weekend where we toured the mansions of Newport, shopped in Fall River and she even camped out in my dorm room. It was then that things started to change from mother-daughter to friends. After college, I headed home to work locally, moving back in with mom. We spent endless nights walking the boardwalk in Ocean Grove. We were a team even though I am sure that I drove her crazy.
When I moved to South Jersey there were many more years of rocky roads. My years of addiction were tough on Mom and for that I am sorry. There were arguments and periods of not talking to each other. I missed her but my addiction had a hold of my life. Mom practiced tough love during those years but our relationship survived the test of time. Along came Belinda and more struggles. Me as a single mom letting pride and my addiction get in the way. When I got clean – mom was there. She helped emotionally, financially and physically. Despite some differences and hiccups in the road – she was there.
When Belinda left for college, I moved to Brick and got married. It has been tough for both of us. Distance makes it hard to “drop in” when I want on my way home from work. No quick calls to have lunch or dinner together. Most days communication is via email instead of the phone.
Lives changed – I have a part-time weekend job, my own business, and a hubby. The one hour drive to Mays Landing sometimes feels like an eternity when I thought nothing of it when I was commuting 2 hours one way to work. We don’t spend as much time together as I would like. It is on our TO DO list again this year – “plan at least a day per month with mom”.
I probably don’t say it a lot and I am sure at times she wonders what I am thinking but the truth is I learned ALOT from my mom. She taught me: how to be strong when life is rough, how to save and budget (okay, so this course I failed), the importance of family and about being a mom. She reminds me to believe in myself (you would think I would know this by now). I can honestly say that my mom is one of my best friends.
Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do. I hope you are enjoying the sunshine in Florida but I do miss spending today with you. Thank you for always being there for me. I love you!
Hope Wissel 