Dear mom,

Thanks for walks on the beach and along hiking trails,
Thanks for driving down dead-end roads to see broken bridges,
Thank you for teaching me so much.
Thanks for food, for a home, for money, for love,
Thanks for being a great listener and talker,
Thanks for always making me feel welcome.
Thanks for letting me sleep in.
Thank you for being proud and supportive, and for letting me keep my old crap around.
Thanks for reading my blog posts, and encouraging me to write.
Thank you for letting me go my own way and learn my boundaries, along with your protective, motherly advice.
Thank you for occasionally letting me bring home a big stick to keep around the house.
Thank you for always being respectful of me as a person.
Thanks for big warm hugs. 🙂
Thanks for letting me watch The Simpsons, and Malcolm in the Middle, and King of the Hill.
Thanks for your awesome songs and poems.
Thanks for encouraging me to keep on learning and growing.

Thank you for everything, mom. I owe you so much, and I love you even more.