Mamma Mia!

"Anyone can be a mother but it takes someone special to be a mommy".  My mom has a shirt with this on it.  It's true that any woman can become a mother.  It's even truer that it does take someone special to be a mommy.  Lucky for me, I have a mommy.

So today on Mother's Day, even though I cannot be with her, I want her to know that I'm thinking about her.  It's not just today though.  I think about her everyday.  Here's some of the reasons why:

• Coffee.  We are a big coffee drinking family.  On mornings when she didn't work, we would sit at home sharing a pot of coffee or go out to breakfast and enjoy coffee together.  Sometimes she would forget her travel mug at home when she left for work early in the morning and I would have to bring it to her.
• Popcorn.  When she would come from work, we would share a bowl of popcorn and some diet pepsi.  I can't get the diet pepsi here, but I do make popcorn on a daily basis.
• My hair.  It's incredibly long now and I could use someone to french braid it.  Mom's the best french braider around.
• Clothes.  Not only are several of the important pieces of clothing I have here in Morocco made by Mom, others have had to be patched up several times which always makes me wish Mom was around to do it for me.
• My soap.  My aunt sent me a care package with Cotton Blossom shower gel from Bath and Body Works which makes me think of Mom because its her favorite scent.
• Mamma Mia!  Not only is it one of my many nicknames for her, we also saw the musical in Toronto and went to go see the sing-a-long version of the movie.  There was one other person in the theater with us and I'm sure he's still sorry for staying while we belted out the tunes.  I still watch the movie frequently and sing the songs of Abba almost daily.
• Little children.  Don't get me wrong most of them are adorable.  Every once in awhile though they get me to that point when I think in my head "you're on my last nerve buddy".  Just like when my brother and I were little causing trouble after Mom had worked all night and she would say that to us.  Like mother like daughter :)  Also, since she works with the little babies I think about all the little kids here who should be a lot bigger but they are not because of malnutrition and poor health.  
• Sickness.  Morocco and my health system apparently are not good friends.  It seems that every week I have some sort of sickness going on which just makes me want my mommy.  Or I need her to confirm that I am not dying from cancer or a brain tumor.
• Cleaning.  It seems that everything where I am is destined to be covered in dirt.  Every time I have to clean I think of my Mom always cleaning her glasses.  Every time she would clean them, put them on and say "that's better".  Just like how I feel after I've swept up the new inches of dirt covering my floors.
• Flowers.  There are a few flowers that just make me think of her.  Sometimes it will be the smell of lilacs or it will be the colors that remind me of the flowers she used to buy every week to put on the dining room table.  
• Pancakes.  My mom used to love making pancakes for dinner and so do I.
• The song 'Mama' by Il Divo.  a) it's a beautiful song and b) it talks about love for their mother which I also have a lot of
• Technology.  Not many people in Morocco can type very fast which yes, makes me think of my own mother slowly typing out the letters.
• Women.  Not every women but the ones that I know who are strong, confident and loving mothers themselves.  
• Blue and red.  The color most likely to be seen being worn by my mother.
• Scrub pants.  She's a nurse and sent me some old scrubs.  They save my life in the heat of summer and make me think of her.
• Wine.  Yes my mother is enjoying good quality wine while I'm stuck with the freshly squeezed bottles but I think about how I tease her for being an alcoholic when she might enjoy a glass of wine from time to time.
• Books.  Mom's an avid reader and enjoys the benefits of working a few days at Barnes and Noble.  She was always a pro- let's buy a book instead of a toy kinda mom.
• T.V. shows like 'House' and 'Revenge'.  She's the one who told me to start watching them and I'm hooked!
• Germany, Italy, Albania and Canada.  Just a few of the places that Mom and I have traveled to together.

These are just a few of the things that always make me think about my Mom.  It's been hard to be away from her and the rest of my family these past years but her support was one of the reasons why I've been able to do this.  I look forward though to being able to go to breakfast with her again or have a spa day together.  I'm happy that soon I'll be able to talk to her everyday or at least way more often than now.  Soon I'll be able to spend holidays with her again.  It will be good to be home.  With that said, happy Mother's day Mom!  I love you.

Mom and Me at my brothers wedding in 2008