Growing up, I always knew my parents were superheroes. I was
always so proud that they were my parents because it felt like I came from some
sort of royal-superhero-heritage. Not because we had a lot of money or
lived in a fancy house, but because they were people who saved other peoples’
lives and protected us from the bad guys. That, to me, always seemed like the coolest thing in the world.
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| San Francisco fun! |
In celebration of Mother’s Day, I’m going to focus on my Mom
and why she’s the greatest. But first of all, a few words about the Mom that
taught my Mom how to be a Mom (that’s a lot of Mom word usage!), my Grandma.
She is one of my favorite people in the whole world and that seems to be a common
theme with the people that knew her. Growing up I was always stoked when we
didn’t have school on holiday’s because my mom would take us to meet my
Grandparent’s for lunch. It was always my favorite thing to do. I never
understood why kids didn’t like hanging out with their Grandparents because mine
were SO COOL. My Grandma was the sassiest, sweetest, most charming person I’ve
ever known. She would always have the whole room cracking up and told the BEST
stories. She was a smart, no-non-sense firecracker, who always reminded me of Lucille
Ball. She was the most amazing woman and she raised two of the greatest Mom’s I’ve
ever known. I’ve always been so proud of the awesome lineage of strong
women in my bloodline.
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| Waiting to board the cruise ship in San Diego |
And my Mom is the best. And she really is a superhero. I
mean, she saves little premature babies’ lives, for heaven sake! You don’t get
more angel-like than that. She is the most compassionate person and has always
put other peoples’ happiness before her own.
She’s smart, beautiful, strong, loving, and FUN. She taught me that you have to
work hard, but you always have to play hard too!
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| Maroon 5 concert madness |
She loves to go to concerts with us and is always down for a good time. We've gone to see Coldplay, The Killers, The Eagles, Maroon 5, AFI and Greenday. She loves to spend time with her kids!
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| Us goofing off...as always! :) |
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| Mom got a fake tattoo for her 50th birthday! |
She’s a complete delight to be
around. I prefer to hang out with her than most people. She’s always been a
best friend to me, a confidant, and a cheerleader. Not only did she continually
fix my broken body from all the soccer injuries but she has continually fixed
my broken heart as well.
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| Ensenada, Mexico |
One of my most cherished memories is from high school, maybe
sophomore year or sometime around there, when I experienced my first real heart
break. She had picked me up from school and known instantly that something was
wrong. I told her all everything through embracing sobs on the way home and she
just listened to me and didn’t make me feel silly for probably being over
dramatic. When we got home I went right upstairs to my room and cried myself to
sleep. She let me have my space and I appreciated that so much. But even more,
when I work up there were bluish/purple flowers on my nightstand and a card
that said something about the rain only lasting so long before the sun comes
out. I was so touched by it, this simple act of love that’s he probably doesn’t
even remember that she did has stayed with me for 10 years. It’s a memory I
will always treasure.
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| Being "Pirate Wenches" in L.A. |
My mom is also the most hysterical person I’ve ever met. I
laugh more with her than anyone else. She likes to make people happy and she
loves to goof off. That’s one of my favorite things about her. She doesn’t take
herself too seriously and she’s showed me how laughter is the best medicine
there is. I see so much of my beloved Grandma in her, which I am so grateful
for because even though she’s gone, I still have parts of her in my mom.
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| Riding Splash Mountain even though it's about to rain! |
She’s also the most fun person to be around. My parents made
a point to take us every couple years to Disneyland ever since, well, before I
was born. Those Disneyland trips are some of my most prized memories because it
was all about having fun with each other. And my mom made sure we grew up
loving roller coasters, she’d take us on all of them. She was always the one
with her arms up, screaming at the top of her lungs and would take us on them
over and over again. She’s a wild one, my mom. In the best possible way.
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| Cabo San Lucas, Mexico |
There isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for her kids or grandkids.
I know she loves me and if I needed her, wherever I was, she’d move hell and high water to get
to me, to help me. There’s no doubt about that. As a kid, there's nothing more important than that. She's always been on my side, always fighting in my corner and backing me up. She has always done everything she could to make my dreams come true. She's fiercely loyal, and in a Mom, there's not anything better than that. I'll always be grateful for those things.
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| Atop the Space Needle, Seattle, Washington |
Whether it’s our Saturday girl’s dinners, vacations,
shopping, or just hanging out, I always love and look forward to the time we
spend together. And that will never change. She’ll always be the one I want by my
side, the one I call when I’m heart broken or stressed or in need of a
pick-me-up. She’ll always be the one I laugh the hardest with and the one who’s
cheering for me at the top of her lungs. And even better, the one who always sees
the best version of me, past the flaws and faults, and makes me want to live up
to that person. She's the Mom I want to be, the Grandma I want for my kids, and
the Grandma I want to become, just like her Mom.
