Ode to Connie

Me and my Mom, Connie.

Yes, I understand Mother's Day has passed, but I didn't want to steal the thunder of a special day dedicated to the thousand of  "awesome Moms" out there. Plus, it's a great way to continue the celebration. I'm not a Mom, so my Mother's Day was particularly uneventful--unless you count the "Happy Mother's Day" I received from the girls at the check-out at Baker's. And, rather than explain and justify why I'm not a Mom, I simply nodded & smiled my thanks.

But it really got me to thinking of my own mom, Connie, and how it's a blessing every day that she continues to be part of my life. A blessing, because on January 1, 2010, my Mom nearly died.

On New Year's Day, my entire family, the "Dean 12", had just opened gifts and were just enjoying each other's company. It was early evening and for some reason, my Mom had gone down the basement stairs to check on her grandsons and that's when it happened. She just fell backwards down the stairs and landed on the ground, slamming her head against the wall of the house's foundation. A complete shock to all of us because she's traveled up & down those stairs numerous times with no incident. But this time was different.

For me, what happened next seemed to go in slow motion: I can remember my dad rushing down the stairs to check on my Mom, my sister-in-law dialing 9-1-1 and handing the phone to me to provide accident and address details to the dispatcher. It wasn't until the dispatcher asked me if she was still breathing that I panicked, wondering if my Mom would be okay. 

I don't think back to that day often and even when I do, I don't recall all the details, which I'm thankful for. What I do recall is that my Mom thought we were ridiculous to be worried about her and even in the emergency room, tried to reassure us that she was fine. 

Fast forward to today and my Mom is fine--which to me is a miracle. I'm often amazed that how quickly she healed after undergoing surgery that required two plates and four screws Her five-inch scar has faded considerably, she's back playing tennis and enjoying all of the things that she did before her accident.

I truly believe my Mom is alive today because she's got a lot of life to live. Not only does she pick me up when I fall down, offer comfort, words of advice, a shoulder to cry on, etc., she's a fighter and she never gives up. She's my biggest cheerleader and the first to tell me if I've messed up and how I can fix it. But it's not just me she does this for, it's our entire family--my Dad, sister and brother along with their families. Even my extended family including my grandmother, aunts and uncles.

To me, she is all of the things a Mother should be and somebody I can only hope to aspire to. So, while it's not actually Mother's Day--to me every day, I give thanks for my Mother and the time I have left to share life with her.