Thanks

Occasion: Mothers Day, 1997. I was just finishing up seminary and wanted to share some things with my mom. Not a poem, really, but quasi poetic, so I share it here.

In an email to my mom I wrote...
Hi Mom, it was great talking with you last night. After we got off the phone I started thinking that you have been a really big help to me through all my years of school and I just wanted to say, “Thanks.” There were so many letters and papers that would not have been done half as well without your help. In fact, there are a lot of things that I don’t think I’ve ever taken time to thank you for.

Thanks for taking me to church.
Thanks for letting me skin my knees, et al.
Thanks for letting me climb.
Thanks for brushing my teeth.
Thanks for changing my diapers.
Thanks for loving my wife.
Thanks for loving my dad
Thanks for my brothers and my sister.
Thanks for making me go to school.
Thanks for your prayers.
Thanks for making me something to eat 3 times a day.
Thanks for keeping our house clean.
Thanks for teaching me to iron my clothes.
Thanks for helping me love books.
Thanks for not doing my homework for me.
Thanks for loving my boys.
Thanks for spanking me.
Thanks for helping me choose the right friends.
Thanks for making me do chores.
Thanks for giving me time to play.
Thanks for teaching me to enjoy life, even when I’m busy.
Thanks for doing my laundry.
Thanks for combing my hair.
Thanks for making me a connoisseur of fine coffees.
Thanks for not allowing me to settle for mediocrity.
Thanks for giving us a home to live in, and a house.
Thanks for sacrificing your stuff for me.
Thanks for helping me to wonder at my mundane world.
Thanks for being my girlfriend when no one else would.
Thanks for everything.
Thanks for being my mom.

I love you.

Happy Mother’s Day.