The physical umbilical cord is cut at birth. The emotional umbilical cord between mothers and daughters can never be severed.

I will always be my mother’s daughter, though she now rests beside my adoring father. She is my daily reminder, in my head, of how to conduct myself. If I could wish upon a star, I would wish for one more day, one final conversation, one last hug and kiss, one last I love you, one last sound of her laugh. Thank goodness, I was born with the positive DNA gene to get me through the times of my losses.

I will be in New Orleans on Mother’s Day with my ultimate concierge celebrating a loving reunion with my girlfriend from my Honolulu days, their anniversary, his birthday and the celebration of their massive photography gift to the New Orleans Museum of Art.

You will also be out and about. Therefore, I decided to take this opportunity to honor my mother.

A LETTER TO MY DEAR MOTHER

Dear Mom,

Though you are gone, yet never far away, I am writing you from my heart, a thank you letter.

I am a very fortunate daughter. You are a woman of substance, refinement, and assurance. You are a mother of principle, who guided, protected, comforted, taught character building through example, and … loved me unconditionally though we had normal mother-daughter tugs of war.

I remember when I asked you to leave me with one piece of advice what would it be.

You paused for a split second and said, “Be true to yourself.”

As a child, I was always an astute observer of people and things. I learned from watching and listening.

I remember observing you doing the crossword puzzle each morning over your coffee and croissant. Watching you made me aware of the importance of patience and knowledge. Thank you, dear mother of mine.

I remember your creativity with your hands. You knitted, crocheted, and taught me to needlepoint. I learned patience and persistence. Thank you, dear mother of mine.

“Thank you, dear mother of mine.”

I recall your card games at home. After school, I would run into the house and find you playing either bridge, canasta, or mahjong with girlfriends. I watched how you served, heard your laughter above all the others, and observed how you lost graciously. I learned the importance of friendship, the beauty in entertaining, the importance of losing graciously, and the importance of laughter. Thank you, dear mother of mine.

You were an outstanding wife. You and Dad were a team. Dad came first. You showered each other with love. Through your actions, you taught me, a woman makes a marriage. Thank you, dear mother of mine.

I remember your tenacity, your loyalty, your charitability, your style, your curiosity, and your empathy for others. They live with me daily. Thank you, dear mother of mine.

I remember your mothering. You were too strict for this daughter of yours. I had a mind of my own. You had a mind of your own. I fought you tooth and nail. But with all our arguing, I respected you, learned my lessons, and loved you dearly. Thank you for your lectures, for waiting up for me late into the night, for keeping me safe.

I remember your wisdom, dear mother of mine. I want to pass it on to my Honey Good readers. That is how proud I am of you. I do hope you are hearing me!

Your devoted daughter,

Susan

THINGS MY MOTHER TOLD ME

CONFIDENCE: “When people talk about you, you know you are not boring!”

STYLE: “Your style is a composite of your inner and outer beauty.”

SECRETS: “Your secret is your secret until you tell someone!”

CHILDREN: “Remember, darling, these two wise quotes: One mother can take care of ten children … ten children cannot take care of one mother. You give your children their roots and then their wings.”

GIRLFRIENDS: “Choose wisely. There are friends who have your values of all ages.”

SKINCARE: “Never use soap.”

AGING GRACEFULLY AFTER 50: “Exercise your mind!”

SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE: “A woman makes a marriage.”

HEALTH: “Be proactive. It will save your life.”

CHOOSING A SOUL MATE: “The most important decision you make is who you choose to marry. Make a list of what you want. Stick to your list.”

PERSONAL HAPPINESS: Own your self-respect. Have a purpose. Love deeply and laugh daily.”

LIVING A HAPPY LIFE: “ A grateful woman is a happy woman.”
Your legacy is with me, Mom. It is all in my head. You travel with me throughout each of my days. You are my beautiful shadow … my mother, my friend, my teacher.

TO MY DARLINGS

I suggest writing a letter to your mom for Mother’s Day; whether she is in heaven or on earth, write her a letter from your heart.

I cried while I wrote this letter to my mother. Buckets of tears ran down my face.

Crying is healthy. I don’t think we cry enough. We all keep emotions pent up in our hearts. A good cry releases all types of emotion — anger, grief, exhaustion, frustration, fear, loneliness, and the what-ifs. Crying is good for our souls. It releases stress. It brings a feeling of peacefulness over our bodies.

A good cry is a good release of pent-up emotions. If my mother was here, she would tell me, “ You learned well at my knee, dear daughter of mine. You learned well.”

And, I would say, “ Thank you, dear mother of mine, for loading me up with your good DNA and for being my mother, my teacher, my friend.”

Amen

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