Mom,

Even though we can't be together because God called you home when I was only 19, I wanted to thank you for still being there for me. Your life was far from perfect, but it was you who taught me the lessons I use today.

Thank you for showing me that love doesn't have to be perfect or ideal.  You only have to have love in your heart for someone or some place, or for a  pet for it to be worth fighting for.  To call that place you go to at the end of the day, as long as there is love - home.

Thank you for instilling strength, courage and virtue in me. Your strength and courage (even to cry) when you were facing surgery has given me the strength and courage to fight for what I believe in, and those I love. You never wavered in your desire to fight for the rights of others (how many kids do you can say that their Mom got arrested because she was striking for worker's rights? How cool was that?) You reminded me many a time, it's not what you get, it's what you give to others that makes life worth living.  It isn't how much time we have with each other, but what we do with the time we are given.

Thank you for singing to me, and teaching me to cook, and reading to me.  I still hear your voice telling me to "Sleep with the angels".  Reading to me by candlelight on a cold, snowy night, with the smell of rice pudding in the oven is still one of my favorite things to do. I hear your soft contralto voice singing Christmas Carols, and your favorite Barbara Streisand albums. Thanks for trips to museums, art galleries, Plymouth, opera, theatre, and our favorite Saturday hang out: the butcher shop.  Thank you, thank you for sharing your love of football.  You may have been a Steelers fan, but I still love you. Thanks for being a jock when know one knew what that was!

Thank you for showing me the importance of knowing God in our own way.  I never understood until recently what you meant by "God touching your heart." Now I know.  You took me to different kinds of religious services, so that I could make up my mind how and when I wanted worship.

Thank you for sharing me your love of nature and gardening, despite my brown thumb. Thank you for spoiling our pets, because now when I spoil Pipers I tell people it's inherited and there isn't a darn thing I can do about it.

Thanks for the best line about the men we love: "When their behavior can't be explained, just remember this: Their Y chromosome is twisted for a reason! But we love them anyways."  Your humor in the face of adversity, has seen me through many a day. 

Most of all thank you for giving me the gift of being me. Foibles and all, it's who I am.  But I never would have had the courage to be me, if you didn't always encourage, laugh, sometimes ground me, and show me that being me is what God had planned. 

It is because of you, that I am here.  I have found another family who loves me and supports me.  It's because of you and them, that I still fight for the man I love and believe in.  I know he will find long term sobriety, and I will find my long term recovery.  I may slip along the way, but they are there to pick me back up, and you're in the back telling me to get going.  It can and will be done.

"Your heart was made of holidays.  Your smile was made of dawn.  Your laughter was an April song that echoes on and on...." That's you in a song.  You use to sing it to me. Who would have thought that I could use that to describe you.  Hmmmmm like mother like daughter.

From the bottom of my heart: I love you dearly Mom and miss you more than you'll ever know.  But I know you're with me, and so is Dad.  Thank you for giving me 19 incredible years. I am the luckiest daughter on earth.  Now give Dad and my Tim a great big hug and kiss for me.  I miss you all very much.  But you are all right where you are suppose to be, in my heart.

Happy Mother's Day Mom.

Live strong,
Karilynn & Pipers Kitty

P.S.  Please don't swap too many embarrassing stories about me with the other Alanon Mom & Dads - especially about the time I ran away from ballet class!