Late Night Thoughts- Ode to Mom

Seven days from now I will be waking up and getting ready to head to the airport and say my final good-bye. I’ve had to hug my mom several times before at airport security. The first time was when I was 13 and flying to California by myself. I would be going on a 5 week tour around the US performing with the Continental Singers. Then 4 years later, I would be doing the same thing all over again; but instead of going for a few weeks, her little teenager would be gone for a few months. Now the time has come again when I’ll get to relive those memories of giving her a hug and shedding a few tears before I board that plane.

It’s amazing to see just how much has changed and how much has remained the same between then and now. The things that have remained the same are what have kept me going and carried me to this point. I knew when I was 13 that this was what I wanted to do. I’m ready for this—to take on the world. My sense of adventure and doing the unthinkable has only intensified.

My relationship with my mom has also been the driving force to get me to where I am. Since the age of 10, it has just been me and her. My mother and I could not be more opposite than each other. But despite my antics, she has been my biggest supporter—always going above and beyond her means to make sure my dreams come true.  During this whole Peace Corps application process she has been my prayer warrior.

I think everybody needs a person like my mom in their lives—someone who stands behind you no matter what. The type of person who drives you to the airport, writes you letters every single day you are gone, takes care of everything on the home front. I believe one of the reason I am able to do such things with confidence, is because I have a person who supports me 100%, not just in their words, but in their actions too.