It's Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s Day. I had a most unexpected surprise. Tony called to say, “Happy Mother’s Day,” and asked if they could come down for a visit. Could they? Of course!!! I was sooo happy. The past few years, Tony has only called to wish me a Happy Mom’s Day, but being I am his mom, I want to see him, and this year I got to.

When they arrived, Em cried out, “I’m here Gramma,” as if I had been waiting just for her. Of course, she was right: Her and Tony and Michele. My family.

As frustrating as it has been for me to be Tony’s mom since he reached the age of 16 or 17 and our communication broke down, the frustration has not diminished how much I like him as a person and love him as my son. He is a good person. He is a kind and loving man. He has done the right things in life to establish himself as a responsible, reliable person.

One of the many good things about Tony is that he’s a first-rate father. He has wanted to be a dad since he was high school age. As a teenager, he was always good with children younger than he, and when he reached the age of 16 or 17, he started talking about having kids when he got married. He loved his daughter from the moment he knew Michele was pregnant. I will forever hold in my mind and heart the image of him carrying Ember in his arms from the delivery room and presenting her to us.

I am also very glad that he was smart enough – and maybe listened to my counsel over his teenage years that a baby deserves to be wanted and planned for and brought into the world to an intact, loving family – to wait to conceive the child he wanted so much until he and Michele were married. Actually, they had wanted to wait five years after being married to have, but sometimes nature has her own way and Em was born 2-1/2 years into their marriage.

So I am a happy Mom and Grandma today. Below are four pictures. The first one is Tony holding Ember in his arms on March 27, 2006, less than an hour after her birth. The other three pics were taken today.

Price of Gas – GASP!!! Regular unleaded hit an all-time high of $3.879 at Sunoco and Cumberland Farms today.

Today’s weather – It is a nice day. The temp was already 62 degrees when I got up at 9 AM (yes, I slept in!). The sun is shining and the sky is beautiful blue. There is a bit of a breeze, though, so a sweater is needed unless right in the sunshine.

Life changes – What more of a change is there to see than my son holding his new-born daughter and then his daughter two years later playing in a sandbox at my house? I remember Tony’s birth as if it were today. I fell in love with my child and I believe that Tony rightfully feels the same way about his child.