Today’s dispatch goes out to a very select group of people who in their own way have contributed to who I am today.  One of them has been here since day one.  The rest of them arrived at a later point in my life.

This message goes out to Mom.

You know who you are.

You’re the one who…

• Pulled that key out of the electrical outlet after I shoved it in there looking for Reddy Killowat
• Rushed me to the doctor that time after we fell over on the bike so that I could get sutures a mere inch away from my eye.
• Wouldn’t let me settle for “good enough”
• Let me make my own mistakes
• Held me accountable for my actions
• Taught me the importance of half-birthdays
• Encouraged me to pursue my interests
• Helped get me a job or two
• Taught me the importance of a good chocolate malt after a visit to the orthodontist
• Hauled me up a great big ole mountain to witness majesty

The list goes on and on.

Mom has good company though.

Let’s see, there are my two Grandmothers who gave us Dad and Mom.  There’s my step-Mother and her Mother.  There’s also my Mother-in-Law and her Mother.  Two of them are no longer with us, the other five are still here.

That’s seven Mothers if I’m counting correctly, ladies and gentlemen.  In my 43 years, 11 months, and 13 days, these seven women have been instrumental in molding and shaping me in a manner consistent with minding my manners and staying out of society’s woodshed.

Don’t forget number Eight though.

Wifey in her role as Mother to my children keeps me in check just as much as the other seven.

To all of you, I wish you the happiest of Mother’s Days.  I love you very much.