One of my sits this afternoon was dedicated to one of the most amazing people I've ever known: Mom. I love my Mom. It's not that I don't love my Dad, merely that it's beside the point (and, to be clear, I love him deeply). Dad's the kind of guy who mostly doesn't care about these sorts of acknowledgments. Weather through Zen mastery or social conditioning birthed from off-the-charts-cognitive-genius unmatched by another, I can't say, but I can say his heartfelt desire to serve and support his family and the selflessness through which he has demonstrated that through the decades is a trait I have long admired.
But I digress.
When I was a little girl, I thought my Mom was the most beautiful woman in the world. . Sure, she had a few extra pounds on her for as long as I can remember, but with her mile long legs, calf development to die for, high cheek bones, pouty lips and killer smile, who was I to think anything but how beautiful she was?
Did I mention she always - and I mean always - had the best collection of coolest shoes a girl playing dress up could want to choose from? (Assuming Mom didn't catch me in her closet with the shoes, that is.) Fortunately for my pocketbook and chiropractic bill, though perhaps less fortunately for my sense of aesthetics, I developed my Dad's sensibilities around my shoes... though I remember the best pair of spiked pumps I ever owned was a pair of black Andrew Geller net and suede shoes I somehow convinced Mom to give me over a decade ago. I nearly cried when I discovered they were worn out.
I wanted to grow up and look and be exactly like my Mom. She has always carried herself with grace and power and for as long as I can remember, there was something about my mom that was alluring in her physical form. I think that's why I'm so comfortable having a few extra pounds on me. It might be her swagger when she walks... or maybe it is her ample decolletage, or as Mark might say, maybe it is a both/and.
Mom was my hero for many years - how many girls my age can boast a Mom who is still married, has 5 healthy, well-adjusted kids and still managed to have a successful career? Well, perhaps a few. I imagine though there are not so many who can laud their Mom as a woman who successfully navigated the politics of the New York City School System such that they landed a job as Superintendent of Schools. Mom was one of the first women to do that sort of thing. It may be she was the first in her district - I can't rightly recall.
Sure, I could say something things about how I wish my Mom were this or that or blah blah blah. When it comes right down to it, my sister-in-law Ilona (thanks girl - you got this right!) pointed out the fact that as different as we are, we are very similar women in some life-shaping ways. We are women with committed work ethics whose passion and fire show through in all we do and, at the end of the day, if there were a battle to be fought, I'd rather my mother were at my side than on anyone else's team. She may be the most fiercely loyal, loving and passionate woman I've known... well, save her middle daughter (yeah, that's me) whose grateful for the gifts we share, even if there are some we don't.
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