A Baked Potato and Missing My Mom

My beautiful, courageous Mama!

Tonight as I sat down to eat my dinner all I could think was my mom and feel her in that moment. I didn't make anything special, a simple baked potato with cheese, bacon, broccoli and sour cream; a huge fan favorite in our house growing up. But boy did that baked potato make me miss my mom. She's the reason I know how to cook and am actually good at it. She taught me everything she knew, which was passed down from my grandma. All I wanted to do was enjoy that baked potato with her. Let her know how I'm doing, even though she's not here physically. It made me want to hug her and hold her hand. 

It made me think of all the lessons she taught me. How money isn't something to idolize. How kindness to strangers go a long way. How to be an independent, strong female but to love people with all I have. But more than anything it made me miss her. Made me miss the woman who single handedly raised me. The woman who was my protector, provider, teacher, guider and through out my college years was becoming a friend. My sister and I were raised in a home where our mom loved us unconditionally, but she was the mom. She wasn't one of those parents who tried to be our BFFs, and I am so eternally grateful for that, as I now know how to be a mom. However, I am sad I missed the chance to be BFFs with my mom. I long for that everyday and will continue my whole life. 

It's so just silly what things remind us of those we lost but for that I am grateful Grateful that things still remind me of my mom. Tonight for me, that reminder was a baked potato.