Last year after The May Queen was published, my mom wrote me this letter. It was incredibly honest and she'd never really talked about some of the things she mentioned therein, so needless to say it means a lot to me. Since she's a regular reader of my blog, I decided that for her birthday I would surprise her by writing a letter too.
Dear Mom,
I remember as a toddler attempting to do yoga by your side as we listened carefully to the instructions of the woman with Rapunzel hair demonstrating the poses on our local PBS station. Later, I remember greedily exploring your bookshelves filled with titles that ran the gamut from Arthurian romances and Ivanhoe to Rod McKuen's poetry and Dianetics. It was better than a treasure trunk packed with dress-up clothes, as far as I was concerned. On special nights when we were glued to the television for a miniseries like North and South, Roots, and Centennial, you would make tea for the four of us. It was a ritual that made us feel so special and grown up. I love how the three of us girls can get lost in a story or song together and, to dad's bemusement, laugh till we cry and vice versa. For those and countless other reasons, I wouldn't be the person I am today without you.
The high school years were tough, of course, and I had to learn that you were more than a mother--you were a woman with your own hopes and dreams and childhood memories. But we survived and our relationship just keeps getting better and better. You radiate gentleness and you are kind, creative, and funny. I love talking to you every week and sharing our passion for books and for life. I value your encouragement so much and want to be able to give that to you as well. I hope you realize how beautiful you are both inside and out. I'm excited that the four of us will all be together this weekend, along with your sister and mother, to celebrate your birthday and be silly together. Because we do silly so well.
I love you, Mom! Happy Birthday!
Kim
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