Me and My Mom in San Diego on the Condo Patio Summer of 1979.My mom's birthday was Sunday, August 10th and the 1-year anniversary of her death is today, August 14th. So, I have been reminicent of her quite a bit this week. I have so many happy thoughts of my mom. As most people know, she did battle alcoholism, which of course brings with it some difficult memories. However, that's not who she was to me...she was my happy, funny mom and I love her. So, I would like to list a few of the happy times I had with her...
1. She was always so easy for me to talk to. I could talk to her about anything and feel that she wouldn't judge.
2. She always cracked me up...she was known for her sarcasm and that was usually the manner in which she spoke.
3. She absolutely loved the Arizona Diamondbacks. She got into them the season we won the World Series, which was just a few months after 9-11, 2001. The thing that was so funny is that she believed that if she lit a candle, they would win. Well, since they were so good then, the candle thing seemed to work out well for my mom. Javier and I always got a good kick out of that.
4. My mom was an excellent R.N. and worked for Banner Health most of her career. She helped so many people with her nursing skills and would even receive numerous "thank-you cards" from patient's family members. Which brings me to my next point...
5. After my parents split and my mom realized she needed a degree to pay the bills, she went to Nursing School at the acredited Grand Canyon University. I have never seen anyone work or study that hard. She was a great example to me and my sister for being a hard worker and it paid off since she made the dean's list, semester after semester. I am very proud of her for what she accomplished.
6. I have so many different, happy memories of her during vacations. Some were up to Prescott, where we stayed in my great uncle's cabin. Other's were our usual vacations to San Diego. One time, we made an impromptu trip up to Sedona for one night and my mom let me and my sister play hooky from school. 
Here she is in her Halloween 'Man' costume.
7. The last, funniest thing she did was Halloween of 2005, she dressed up like a man. Boy, did she do a great job of looking like a dude. She actually ended up looking like a trucker with her hat, flannel shirt and boots. She even fooled my dad and step mom who said "who is this man walking up here w/o any kids with him?". Turns out it was a great costume that recieved funny reactions from everyone. Aside from recognizing her voice, my kids (at that time it was just Christopher & Marley) were thoroughly confused by her gettup. What a silly mom I had!
8. The most recent happy memory I have of her are the lunches I would have with her, my grandma Merle and my 3 kiddos at any point during the week. I really enjoyed spending those relaxed, comfortable moments with her.
Javier, me and my mom at our 2001 Wedding.
Sure my mom had a few problems and I wish she was here with me still to see my kids grow up, but she was a great mom who left me with great memories. So, Thank You Mom for the fabulous memories. I will forever treasure them in my heart <3.>
