It has been a little over twenty-five years since I’ve had the pleasure to celebrate Mother’s Day. I lost my Mom in November of 1983. And since, Mother’s Day has never been the same. Though its significance remains dear to my heart, its importance to me has lost its luster.

Mother was stern, yet loving. She was a nurture, as well as a teacher. She was the boss, but still your friend. She was the world’s best cook and mediator. Her passion was classical music, teaching piano, and entertaining. Above all, she was a devoted wife and a down to earth Christian woman. Divorcing after thirty years of marriage, she decided to become a missionary and made Brazil, South America her home away from home.

Her name was Ellen, born September of 1918, in Yokohama, Japan. During W.W.II spent a year in a Japanese concentration camp charged with spying for the Americans. She then meet my Dad who was stationed in Japan, married, and shortly thereafter began a life of motherhood when I came into her life.

Of all the loses I’ve experienced in life, the most painful was loosing my Mother. Yes, I was a Mamma’s boy. From the time I knew how to walk she would take me into the kitchen and teach me how to cook, how to clean house, how to wash clothes, and how to look after and take care of the family dog.

When outdoors she would take me to a small rippling brook and from reeds design a small sailboat, set it a sail, and together we would watch them float down stream. At night she would tuck me into bed then go into the living room from where I would fall asleep listening to smooth sounds of Mozart’s "Eine kleine Nachtmusik". At other times she would turn me in, turn on my bedside radio, lay down next to me where we would listen to “Only The Shadow Knows” and “The Guiding Light” during which I would eventually fall asleep.

Awe the memories, how sweet they are, and how much I wish she were here today. It breaks my heart when I see and hear children disrespect their mother. Hear them say how much of a nuisance or an inconvenience it is to have to spend time with her. If only they knew how short Mom’s time here on earth really is. How once she’s gone home there will never be that second chance or that next Mother’s Day.

Tell you what, though I have no regrets, now some twenty-five years later I would give my life in order to be able to bundle a dozen red roses, call Mom, pick her up, have dinner together, and just spend quality time with her. But such is life, for now anyways, cause one day soon reunion day is coming and what a day it will be when I will once again be able to put my arms around her and tell her how much I've missed her.

To those of you who have yet to wish your Mom’s a Happy Mother’s Day, do it! Now! Make this day like none other and let her know that she is thought about, loved, and cherished. And if there are differences that separate your hearts, for God's sake, put it aside! All the differences you may have in the world isn’t worth missing this one and maybe the last opportunity to take a moment or day to tell your Mother she rocks. So if you haven’t picked up the phone … damn it, DO IT! Get over yourself and just do it!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Until Tomorrow ...

Foot Note: The picture above was taken August of 1983, aboard the Queen Mary, Long Beach, CA.