No Regrets

This past Tuesday, July 14th, marked the 9 year anniversary of my dad's death. I always tell people who have lost a parent, “When both your parents are alive, you think you can imagine how it will feel. When you actually lose one, you feel like you’re part of a secret club and you realize you couldn’t possibly imagine how it would feel.”

I hurt more now than I did when he died. It’s like when you first fall in love with someone and want to spend all your time with that person. When they go away for a day, you miss them. If they were to go away for a week, you’d miss them so much more. If they were gone a month, you’d REALLY miss them. With respect to the death of a parent, you miss them more as time goes on because their presence is missed more and more with each passing day, month and year. Plus, there are more “missed” memories . . . missed holidays, milestones, events you wanted to share, questions you wish you’d asked, etc.

I actually spent the last couple of days writing a "tribute" of sorts about my dad, but now that I'm done with it, I realize it's far to personal to post. So let me give you a piece of advice instead:

If one or both of your parents are alive, cherish your time with them, leave no question unasked, no story unheard, no advice unheeded. Try your hardest not to have any regrets when they're gone.

Mother's Day

When I was little -- I mean starting around age two -- my dad would regularly tell me my mom was my best friend and that I'd never have a better friend than she. He often said, "You have a new 'best friend' every week, but if you were smart, you'd realize your mother's the best friend you'll ever have."

He was right.

My mom and I have lived together my entire life except for about 5 years -- first I lived with her and then she lived with me (and still does).

Recently my sister and her husband came for a visit. We went out to eat and my sister said, "Look at them!" Huh?! "You'd think you two never saw each other the way you're always yakking!" She's right.

I have the very best mom in the world and I'm so grateful for her. She's funny, oozes charisma that draws everyone to her (!), an amazingly hard worker, self-less, loving, sacrificing, and simply wonderful.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

You have just under a week . . . figure out how to tell YOUR mom how much you love her!