I get that from you.

Today is my Mom's birthday. Say it with me – Happy Birthday Mary! As many of you know, I only see my Mom every few years, and I don't call her nearly enough (#someoneshouldlearntotext). I know that many of my decisions & daily choices baffle my mother. I imagine that she is often chatting with my sister or brother saying something or other about that "crazy thing Katrina is into…" Actually, strike that. My mother is a freakin' vault when it comes to sharing information with the 3 of us. So she probably just tells my Dad that I'm nuts. Ha! Anyway, I've been thinking lately about some of the things that I DO get from my Mom…so here's a little tribute…

We are writers. I could not have escaped this if I tried. My Mom is a writer. My Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, and Great-Grandfather…and, and, and were writers. Both of my children are writers. The apple not only doesn't fall far from the tree…it falls smack dab onto a clean page. 

We are creative. I remember filling out many a school form listing my mother's occupation as "artist." My Mom paints, draws, sews, photographs…and can cut out a string of paperdolls like nobody's business. I personally thing that my Mom's talent as a teacher lies in her ability to be creative in the classroom…not necessarily her ability to follow the latest standards and testing rules. 

We are gypsies. If not in practice, in spirit. We've moved dozens of times. We've been to dozens of random off-the-beaten-path places (Great Crater of Arizona anyone?) Sometimes by choice, and sometimes by necessity, we were taught to wander & explore. 

We are seekers. Elizabeth Gilbert calls it "the mighty urgency of the quest." My Mom and I seek different knowledge, for sure…she is bewildered by my interest in Buddhism and eastern thought; I am perplexed by her dedication to genealogy. (Hmmm…as I wrote that, I was struck by the idea that I am seeking inward, and my Mom is seeking backward. Topic for therapy, eh?) I was raised to believe that anything worth learning can be learned….and that is the number one lesson that I hope to have taught my own kids. 

We love coffee (and ice cream. and dark chocolate.). I had my first cup of black coffee in the 4th grade, and I haven't looked back since. My Mom and I often chat about "cutting back"…which we both know to mean "backing away from our 8th cup of the day." We both have a weakness for ice cream, and a serious love of dark chocolate. The result of all of this is that we both get that look from our doctors. 

Happy, happy Birthday Mom! I won't bother telling you that I am mailing your present TODAY, or that Karen will absolutely call you first. I don't know who I get my lateness from! 😉