I'm recently back from spending three weeks in Florida with my family. I had a great time! I'm so lucky to have a wonderful family, even when I don't always appreciate them all the time (do any of us?).
My mom and I drank together, laughed together until we cried, went shopping, watched "In the Line of Fire" and recited the lines word for word for the umpteenth time, and so many other things.
Unbelievably after three weeks, for the first time in five years, I wasn't ready to leave. I was sad to leave. I was going to miss spending time with my mom. Who would shop with me or laugh with me when I got home? Sure I have friends here but it's not the same as having my best friend.
All my life I wanted to be just like my mom. When I was little, I played house like nobody's business. I remember saying once that when I grew up I wanted to be a housewife, because that's what my mom did. Even now at 40, I strive to be like her. I make crafty things at Christmas like she does. I shop for bargains (most of the time), I say what's on my mind because that's what she does (always in a kind way). I still to try to play tennis, because she did (I started at7 or 8). I pray to Mary, because that's what she did. My mom made me everything I am today.
Today I was cleaning out my place - "cleaning like mom" I say because I throw a lot out or put it in a bag for Goodwill. While cleaning I came across a letter she wrote me almost 25 years ago when I was getting ready to go on a retreat. In it she wrote that she wanted for me all of the things she never had.
How funny, all of these years, I wanted to be her and she wanted to be me. . .
