Dear Mom…

Dear Mom,

I know technically I’m supposed to say, “Happy 5^th Anniversary in Heaven,” but I still can’t bring myself to “celebrate” this day. Instead, I can’t help but continue to use the words of one of my favorite movie Moms, “I guess I’m just selfish…I’d rather have her here.”

Five years…wow. So much has happened since you left us. Many of it you know from my penned letters to you on this day every year. Most important, I’m healthy, relatively, yes, I’m still single, but I’m happy. I have a great job, a wonderful apartment that I’m turning into a home and most important the best friends in the world – anchored by Eileen, Mike, Jonathan, Nick, Alex, Stefanie, Gaby, Houston, Frank, Billy and too many others to name.

Helping to keep my mind off the sadness of this “anniversary” is the second Inauguration of President Barack Obama. It’s a bit ironic…because his first inaugural was just as instrumental in helping me deal with the sadness of the first “anniversary” of the day we lost you. From the letter I sent to President Carter after watching his Inauguration in class (which got me in the newspaper for the first time – you’ll be happy to know I found the newspaper clipping finally!), to the week I spent in DC attending all of the inaugural events for President Clinton’s first Inauguration, this day has always had special meaning for the political nerd in me. Today is also the day the nation honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. We still have a long way to go to realize his complete dream, but it is not lost that nation’s first African-American President will take the oath of office today for the fourth time (don’t ask) in four years on this day.

I still miss you terribly Mom, and I still talk of you often with my friends. I find it helps a great deal to continue sharing my memories of you with them. I won’t lie, I have really come to dread the month of January. Your birthday coupled with the “anniversary” of the day we lost you and the day I said good-bye to you for the last time all fall within weeks of themselves. I try each year not to let it bother me, but each year I continue to fail….miserably. I hope it’s not too disappointing to you. I just miss you.

But as I said, life in general is good. Eileen finally had her baby last year. A beautiful boy named Will. He has become the center of attention for our group. Billy visited last summer, so he Frank and I were together again, for a few hours at least. His three boys are growing up fast and are pure treasures. I’m hoping to get out to visit with them this year. Through the Internet, I’ve been able to reconnect with a lot of people from the past in the last year including Rodney, who lives down in Florida with his family. His Mom is doing well. Finally, Stefanie and her family are all doing well. TJ has grown into an amazing young man. I look at him and find it hard to believe he’s the same boy that used to fall asleep in my arms.

I’ve selected a few songs to close out my letter to you, as I have in the past. Music continues to be the thing that keeps me the closest to you on a daily basis. I hope you enjoy them.

I love you Mom. And I miss you.

Christopher