To My Mum

The other day I was thinking about makeup.

What does that have to do with my mom, or mothers in general?  Well, let me tell you.  I was walking down the street, thinking about how I really hate taking off makeup, and that I'm so happy that I don't feel as though I need to wear makeup to go out of the house.  And that made me think about how my mom doesn't wear a lot of makeup, either.  Because she doesn't need to.  She's lovely.  And then I started to think of just how lovely she is and all the amazing things she has done for me, which is appropriate seeing as it is Mothers' Day season.  Unfortunately, I did not have the time, nor the resources, to send her a gift this year (never fear, she got an excellent birthday present), but I still want to give her something.  So I decided to give her my first blog post after a bit of drought.

Thank you, Mom.  Thank you for not wearing a lot of makeup, and not inflicting on me some sort of beauty regime.  But also, when I needed to look good for college auditions, thank you for taking me to a high quality makeup counter, and treating me to that makeup.  As you said, since I didn't ask for any makeup until I was 19, it seemed okay to buy it for me.  I still remember that shopping trip.  Thank you for the makeup and the dresses.  Going out shopping was never really our thing, and that was a very successful, fun day.

Thank you.  Thank you for taking care of me every single time I got sick.  Which, as we both know, was ALL THE TIME.  It was probably no fun taking care of a little girl who managed to contract scarlet fever.  And walking pneumonia.  And is allergic to penicillin, but caught strep throat at least once a month.  Oh, and who would sleep through her own coughing attacks, while you laid awake.  You're a champ.

I'm sorry.  I'm sorry for all the times we didn't/don't see eye to eye.  I'm sorry about the time I didn't want you around for homecoming pictures.  I'm sorry about the times I came home after having a little too much to drink.  I'm sorry that I don't wear a helmet when I roller blade, and I know it makes you worry.  I'm sorry about the one year I thought it was a great idea to buy you goldfish for Mothers' Day.  And I don't mean the crackers.  I mean two live goldfish.  

But thank you.  Thank you for reading to me when I was little, even if it did always make you fall asleep.  Thank you for making the world's best cookies, which I'm still convinced are the reason I ever had friends growing up.  Thank you for making a killer apple pie, and for teaching me how to bake.

Thank you for the ability to say that I had only ONE store bought Halloween costume.  And for loving holidays as much as I do.  And embracing all that is Christmas.  Christmas is important.  Thank you for decorating the house so beautifully every year and playing Christmas music and making hundreds of cookies.  Thank you for always making sure that my birthday presents are always wrapped in birthday, NOT Christmas, paper.

Thank you for supporting my Wizard of Oz obsession.  And my acting obsession.  And almost all of my hair brained obsessions and choices.  Thank you for believing I am smart enough to be a doctor or a lawyer, and accepting that I have degrees in Public History and Musical Theatre Performance.  Thank you for letting me do whatever I wanted to my hair and coming to see all of my shows.  Thank you for staying up to help me finish homework and other projects I left too late.

Thank you for teaching me how to manage my money.  Thank you for teaching me how to craft, and the simple beauty of something made by hand.  Thank you for teaching me how rewarding doing something for some else always is.  Thank you for the night we watched "Big Business", and for all the times we kicked Dad out of the Man Cave so that we could watch "Cupcake Wars".

Thank you for marrying Dad, because we all know he would be dead in a ditch if you hadn't.

Thank you for being there for me these past 25 years.  I look forward to many more.

There are innumerable other things which deserve thanks, but let's save some for next year.

Love you.