My mom would have been 97 years young today. As November 10 rolls around every year since 2020, I realize that I have lived another entire year without her and it really guts me. There are few things that have affected me like the death of my mother. There is just something about it that I doubt I will ever get over. I think that is okay — she was such a big part of my life and as an adult she became a friend as well as a mother.

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Life can be unpredictable and chaotic at times but the love of my mother was a constant that I could rely on. I so miss those calls and emails and letters. I wish she knew her great grandchildren. She would have loved them so much.

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I am so lucky that I have such great memories and so very many photographs to help me remember my sweet mom.

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My sister, Paula, and I often text each other when something reminds us of our mother and I think she has many of the same emotions that I have as she was very close to her as well. I am thankful we can share those things with each other and share the sadness or sometimes – a giggle over something that reminded us of her.

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I remember how much she missed her own mom after she died and how she felt on her birthday every year. I would like to think they are laughing it up together over something silly today.

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