She taught me so much but she didn’t teach by preaching at me.  She taught me important life lessons by leaving really long messages on my answering machine.  

And she also taught me by example.  She tried to live her life the way she wanted me to live my own. 

She showed me that a mother’s love is unconditional and encouraged me to reach for my goals.  She taught me that you should never put a pillow over a man’s head when he snores or you might hurt him; that balancing goopy, saucy casserole dishes on top of the fridge is just a bad idea; and, she taught me that when you paint the bathroom, you should never paint all the pipes, the vanity, and the inside of the tub or your husband will get really mad.

And perhaps most importantly, she taught me that it’s never wrong to have your own sense of style….. well, almost never…..

My Mom in the 1970s

My Mom Today

Thanks Mom!