When I Grow Up I Want To Be Just Like My Mom....
Sometimes on snowy days when I am all bundled up by my fire I would like to pick up the phone and chat with my mom. I think of that often, sunny days, rainy days, Fabulous days, "Just Found A Great Deal and I wanna tell you" Days.  So lets see....that is most days.  So yes, most days I think about my mom.  But on some days I take the time to visit those memories that make me smile and I know that I was the luckiest girl on the planet to have called Margaret Conley "MOM" 
It is the small things that I am remembering today, but small is powerful. I remember shopping at Toys By Roy every July for the most perfect doll for my birthday, and then a walk through Jerry's pet shop just because. To be followed by an ice cream at the fountain counter at TG&Y.
I remember when she used to show up at my high school without warning, just to check me out for lunch.  And we would go to Burger Time for a burger and a 5 cent coke.  Coke always tasted so much better when shared with my mom.  Eating in the car was always our best "Visit Time" Those lunches always ended up with me and mom at Loretto Mall and a purchase at JC Penny's cuz "It will look so darling on you" and we couldn't leave "IT" behind.
I remember coming home from school and smelling a pot of beans on the stove from the front porch and knowing that my mom was home and waiting for me to get there.
I remember my moms beautiful pink dress the day that I got married and the smile on her face as she said "This is a Happily Ever After Day" and my heart agreed with her. The hug she gave me promised she would always be there for me.  And I knew that I would always be her little girl and that was a gift.
My mom wore red nail polish and red lipstick.  She smelled like Jessica McClintock perfume and she loved high heels. My mom loved a great purse and always had one.  My mom was the definition of "A Lady"  My mom knew how to do things, like cook and sew.  She knew how to balance a check book and run a home.  But mostly My Mom knew how to LOVE.  And it was Uunconditional.  It was Big and Wonderful.  My mom's love was the warm blanket when I was cold, it was like a ray of sunshine coming through my bedroom window in the morning.  My moms love was my North Star and my Anchor.  And I Loved Her Right Back.  She was my rock through my first broken heart, leaving home, and my first baby. She held my hand as she watched me finally grow into a big girl.  And after all those years of being there for me my sweet mama got tired and she got sick. And she lived with me. She still brought the sunshine with her and she still kept me warm when insecurities swamped me and we had to say goodbye.  We held hands, we talked, we cried. and we knew there would be tomorrow. 
When I grow up I want to be a woman just like My Mom. I want to always wear red nail polish and carry a great purse and I want my children to know that my love for them is bigger than the universe.