My Mom rocks PERIOD

Okay, so a major picture post is coming tonight before I head out for the long weekend.

Mom really came through and made me proud and was most certainly proud of herself in a very cute and adorable I'm a big girl now type way.

Mom called me three quarters of the way here yesterday boasting how she was driving 75 mph and in the left lane. "That's great, ma, but you might want to drive in the center where you're less likely to get a ticket."

I started to get nervous when 35 minutes had passed since her call and started calling. I finally got her when she was about to pull into my street. I'll be damned if that woman didn't manage to find a dollar store a mile from my house and pop in for party hats and a few other misc. items only a decent dollar store could provide. She makes me laugh.

I was grateful to have met some neighbors yesterday. The folks across the street are great and the young engaged couple next door with the impeccably maintained lawn seem nice as well. Mom met the older folk and blah blah blah. I've stopped getting embarassed of my mother most of the time. Now, I just let her talk. Like a horny dog, sometimes it's best to just let her finish.

We hung out at the house and unloaded her car. Hysterical. Only my mom could go somewhere for one night and require three trips be made into the house to get all her crap. I got an iron for my birthday so I'm happy. I needed one. She brought wine (and lemon-lime soda to make a "spritzer") and chips and dips (which we never got to) and variety cheesecake and an extension cord in case there was no outlet near the bed for her alarm clock and her God Bear which she sleeps with and pillows and a blanket and water and......

That's my mom. It was different last night though. I was just so proud of her for starting to be bold and take what she considers to be risks and just her gift of coming down to see me for my birthday was an amazing one. You may be thinking, "what the hell's the big deal?" Believe me, it's a big deal. Major preparation went into this on her side and she put her mind to it and she did it. She told my step dad she was going, she made him dinner the night before, and yeah, she had to do a million things the average married woman wouldn't/shouldn't have to do, but she does and she did it.

Haha. I took my mom to Philly to see where I've been living the past 21 months and she looked around and poked and prodded and picked up and set down my posessions as if she was at a flea market. "Oooooh, look at this. I like this. If you don't want this in the new place, may I have it?"

And in typical mom style, even in a brand new to her place, she still tried conversing with me from halfway across the house, while I was peeing no less. If she's one thing, she's consistent.

So then we went to a diner. The same diner we ate at four years ago under very bad circumstances. Mom marveled at my progress and how I've come full circle and then we enjoyed a big deep fried American diner meal.

We ended the night with me being sang Happy Birthday with a candle in a slice of turtle cheesecake and a "spritzer". We bullshitted and prayed together and fell asleep.

This morning was also enjoyable. I woke up at 4:40 am to "Jess, where's the coffee filters?"

Watching my mom drive away this morning, I didn't feel my usual fear or heart-ache. Leaving my mom can be very hard on me. I hate leaving her because I know too well what she goes home to. But today was different, I just felt so proud of her. As corny as it sounds, it was like my little girl was growing up.

My mom wants to start giving her three children happy memories. I'd say with the trip to Washington earlier this month and my birthday slumber party, she's off to a hella good start. Now she just needs to plan something for my other brother's visit in July.

Thanks, ma.