Memorial to My Mother

Tomorrow is my mother's funeral and burial. I was asked today to speak at her service. Below is my memorial to my mother.

Be strong. Be intelligent. Smile.

Know that beauty has everything to do with how you feel about yourself and nothing to do with looks or other people's opinions.

Never do anything just because everyone else is if you believe it's wrong.

Always be true to yourself.

Stand up for what you believe in.

Expect the best from life and that's what you'll get.

Learn from your mistakes and failures.

Believe in magic and wish on stars.

Love and trust and be compassionate.

Make faces. Play in mud puddles. Take bubble baths.

Turn off all the lights and watch lightening storms.

Dance, laugh, cry, and sing when you want to.

Read everything you can get your hands on.

Stand up for what is right especially if you stand alone.

Don't allow yourself or people around you to tolerate prejudices of any kind.

Don't be afraid to try something new.

Do something daring at least once a week.

Run through snow drifts.

Spin in circles and roll down hills.

Pet puppies, hold kittens, and talk to/cuddle babies.

Take afternoon naps. Stay up to watch the sunrise.

Never apologize for being a woman or for being yourself.

Never forget that I love you more than any other person in the world, no matter how far apart we are you will always be my daughter.

Her last words to me were, "I've always loved you. I love you forever and always."

Thank you, Mom, for everything you taught me, for loving me no matter what I did.

I love you, Mom.