Finale

As excited as I am to see my friends in Columbus tonight, it is going to be hard leaving my mother back here in Knoxville. Ma and I haven't lived together this long since before the divorce and I was nervous as to see how we would work it out. Only a few tears were shed and all two of them were due to extreme sleep deprivation while we were talking about non-violent communication with other family members. It is difficult to put into words how much I truly miss having ma around, I know she will/is reading this and without getting too sappy I just wanted to say a few words.

Ma,
What a year! Whew. We made it to 2009 and as your 50th birthday FAST approaches, I find it totally and completely necessary to let you in on a few secrets...I stole your long black scarf about two years ago when I came to visit and you are never getting your CD player back. I apologize but that is a really nice scarf and the CD player picks up radio stations. After spending a few weeks here I have decided that you are not a Minnesotan any more; the "unreasonably cold" 50 degree weather here in Knoxville threw me off so much that I am still trying to figure out if I missed Christmahanukwanzicolstice or not. Though the red and green holiday pizza was awesome, I prefer you give up cooking all together, you are too much of an awesome person to waste away in the kitchen. Please stay away from all sharp, hot, or otherwise dangerous objects including the blunt ones. I know you would prefer not to but please get rid of the "hello, 80's" sweater you wore the other day or I will have to report you to What Not to Wear and they will make you start dressing for style not comfort. I am unsure how you do it day in and day out, sixteen 2-6 year olds is a lot to deal with and I cannot say it enough how proud I am to be your daughter. I now realize I was running away from my life and problems by looking into the Air Force, it was incredible that you drove to BGSU to save my ass two weekends in a row. I still want to fly, but strengthening the wings you once gave me is more important right now than what grade I get in biology or if I work this next semester. Thanks to you I can pour blue water from one cup to another, tell you the capital of Zimbabwe, separate my clothes for wash correctly (each color a separate load), and of course, wash dishes by hand. I will never understand why after having a hellion like me, you would choose to teach, but more power to you ma. We might have had our differences about how to look at life, but ma, you're stuck with me.





"Our final developmental task is to value ourselves without our gifts." -Dr. Mary Jurisson