My Mom

Today, I was going through some old family pictures for a calendar that I'm putting together. I came across this picture of my mom, JoAnn, taken in 2005. She will be 78 in December and is still going strong.

I live almost 2,500 miles away from my mom, yet I never feel far away from her. People often ask me how this is possible. The answer is simple. I might be physically far away, but I'm not far away emotionally or mentally.

There have been times in my life when I have been far away emotionally and mentally. To be honest, I'm not proud of those times. I realize, though, that those times are just a part of life and can't be taken back. Amazingly, even during the times when I was distant, my mom never was. She was always my mom.

At present, I feel closer to my mom more than ever. Most of this is due to my own maturing process. It is also due to the fact that I see my mom as both a mom and friend. I look forward to speaking to her on the phone several times a week, even if it is just to say "hi" and to check-in.

So, yes, I am physically far away, but mentally and emotionally, I feel like she is right here with me.