10 memorable moments growing up with mom....

10.Our family vacations to the Outer banks. This was 2 weeks my mother always looked forward to-it restored her sanity from raising 4 small children. And for some reason, we always vacationed in Hatteras or Okracoke Island, the FURTHEST you had to go to reach your destination. And being a family living on a librarian's salary, we traveled in a volkswagon beetle, circa 1968. Mom and dad in the front, Chris ans I in the back seat, and the twins in the well near the engine. And the cat. And 2 weeks worth of supplies and clothing. We looked liked a travelling circus.

9. Syracuse snows. And me walking to school solo when I was in first grade. It was what you did back then when you mom had 3 kids at home under 3.

8. Her dinner parties. My mom can cook. And throw great parties. Except when she served duck to a library board member that had buckshot in it and she broke her tooth.

7. Living with 3 boys. She checked the police beat daily to be sure no arrests had been made. No food in the fridge was sacred-one brother ate avocado face cream. She rolled with it...

6. Thanksgiving dinners. Always her favorite holiday and we did it up right. I can't remember a time where I actually knew everyone sitting at our table. Or, in one case, under the table. With a bottle of B and B liquor. After a massive eating orgy.

5. Barhopping in Annapolis. When I was of drinking age, this was a favorite activity. She knew everyone in Annapolis...one giant party in your personal bar...

4. Finding various well known jazz musicians sleeping on our sofa. She booked jazz acts at the Maryland Inn, and often housed them as well.

3. Raccoons in the kitchen. Think we mighta called animal control, but this was 10 at night. Finally chased them out with a broom.

2. The lost turkey roaster pan. It was my great grandmother's and used every year for the turkey. But we never knew where it was left. One year we found it on the porch of the house, with last year's turkey in it.

1.Her wiley nature as a single lady. She dated various men throughout the years. One was a spanking new midshipmen, who rode his bike to our house. I remember asking him the morning if he was going to be out new dad....

Happy Mother's Day Mom! What great fun memories!!!!