Today holds a lot of meaning for me. It is four years ago today that my mother passed away. It has been a very difficult four years to get through. Most of the time I felt like I was climbing uphill the whole way without much of a handhold. I’m stronger now, though. I feel like I am finally beginning to get myself back. I miss her more than I can say, and I talk to her every day. I know she hears me. I feel her all the time.

I was absolutely determined to make today a day of positivity. There has been enough sadness and negativity, ya’ know? And I know Mom was with me on that idea, because when I went to the courthouse to pay a stupid ticket I got for having expired tags on the car (we truly didn’t realize they had expired!), they told me there was no record of the ticket ever having been submitted to the court, so it would be dismissed. When I turned to leave I looked up to the sky, gave a sly little smile, and said “thank you, Mom”.

I then went out to lunch with my daughter and her best friend and had a fabulous sandwich and salad with some yummy raspberry iced tea. It was completely perfect.

So here’s to my Mom — gone, but always here.