This weekend is the "unofficial" kickoff of summer. I can't help but to recall all of the songs that define each of our summer memories and current happenings, no matter what our current age. We each have our "favs"...the music that makes us think of all the spectacular events that this time of year brings to mind and the euphoria that comes along with it...both past and present.
Here's a few that come to mind:
Summer Nights-Rascal Flatts C'Mon Ride It-Quad City DJ's When the Sun Goes Down-Kenny Chesney and Uncle Kracker Strawberry Wine-Deanna Carter Good to be Me-Kid Rock and Uncle Kracker Summertime Blues-Eddie Cochran All Summer Long-Kid Rock Summer in the City-Lovin' Spoonful Water-Brad Paisley Summer Nights-John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John Brown Eyed Girl-Van Morrison That Summer-Garth Brooks Summer Breeze-Seals and Croft Summer of '69-Bryan Adams Summertime-Billy Holiday Hot Child in the City-Nick Gilder
No doubt about it, we all have 'em...the one's that take us back to the days of our youth or that are currently our favs of present day. Here's mine...what's yours? Why? You don't even need a reason or explanation.
Have a great summer!
Whether you believe that this day is a "Hallmark Day" or not, there's no denying that mothers around the world deserve recognition for the countless sacrifices they have made in the lives of their own children. If it were not for our mothers. We would not have been given life. Biology aside, mom's are pretty magical beings. Moms make us safe in an unsafe world, they heal us (no matter if we're are 8 years old or 38 years old)...and they continue to inspire.
Think of this, a mama who sends a son off to fight a war with the uncertainty of his return..and unfortunately many of those soldiers never hold their mama again. Mamas who get a call in the middle of the night, that phone call telling a parent their child won't be coming back to walk through the doors of their family home due to an accident that their baby, their only child's life has been taken, without a signal warning and words left unspoken. Unable to say a good-bye or saying one least time, "I Love You...I've Always Love You"... (one that my mother and daddy had played out in their own minds in regards to their own daughter countless nights in my youth, I'm certain).
As an adult, I have seen friends who have lost their mothers and dread the day that I lose my own mother. For some sons and daughters, their mother is all that they have ever had to hold onto...the only safe place to fall. So this weekend make sure you tell your mother how much you appreciate, adore and eternally love and are forever indebted to for the remainder of your days. She's the one that's stood up for you when looked around and thought no one was there. In that instant, she calmed your doubts and fear and gave you the strength to believe when you no longer believed in yourself.. with a look a glance, or a word, she gave you the strength to move on. Now, years later I have become my own children's safe place to fall. I hope they know how much their mama loves them unconditionally. No matter where this world may taken them, mama is here. Mama is your home...home is your mama.
Barbara Louise Curtis O'Connell, planted roots for me...then later gave me wings. I am so proud that she is my mother and that my wings carry me home to her whenever I need my nest. I love you mama...yesterday, today and forever. Now, in the present day and the years to come, I vow to be my mother's soft place to fall. I hope she will always know that. She can read my heart and she has witnessed my heart break... as I have known hers. Whether I am triumphant or fall flat on my face, she knows I can get back up, dust myself off and better for it.
There's no love like yours...it's been the greatest of many gifts you have given to your daughter.
And, to all women lucky and blessed beyond measure to be called that little five letter word that means it so much..."mommy"
