I Just Called To Say…

Twenty-two years.

Is that a long time?

Sipping on a straw consistently for twenty-two years would be a VERY long time.

Having insomnia for twenty-two years would be a whole lot of years not to get a good night’s rest.

Going grocery shopping once a week for twenty-two years doesn’t seem like too much to me.

Riding your bike to work for twenty-two years would definitely give you strong legs!

Working at the same job for twenty-two years would be quite an accomplishment.

Being married for twenty-two years is something to celebrate.

Finding twenty-two year old milk in the refrigerator is disgusting!

Turning twenty-two years old today, well, that’s just awesome.

Today my sweet daughter, Alyssa, is turning twenty-two years old. It just seems like yesterday that I was holding her in my arms and staring into her newborn eyes. How did the time pass so quickly? Now it feels like a fleeting blur of beautiful memories. I thought I would write her a short note today.

Hi Alyssa!

It’s just me again. This is the first birthday that I won’t get to see you. It still feels so strange when you don’t come home from work and eat dinner with me. I think I’m still in shock that you live so far away.

I’m so, so, so very proud of you. I still can’t believe that I have been so blessed to have YOU as MY daughter. YOU have been the greatest blessing and joy in my life. You’ve grown into such an awesome young woman. Looking back and replaying twenty-two years with you brings to mind so many wonderful and comforting memories.

Many mothers and daughters don’t have the connection and relationship that we share, so it is just another reason that I feel so much gratitude for you. Here’s an example of how close we still are even though we are a country away from each other.

A couple weeks ago I decided to make meatballs your favorite way. I haven’t made them for at least six months, but I was really wanting some that day. So as I stood in the kitchen watching my meatballs brown, I thought about how many times we had shared that same meal together.

While deep in my thoughts, I heard my cell phone make a sound that indicated I had just received a text message. When I pulled it up, I had a picture from you. It was a big bowl full of ingredients and you had written one word and a smiley face: Meatballs 🙂

I freaked!

Me: OMG you’re not making them now are you because look what I’m making (I sent you a picture of the meatballs I had just taken out of the pan.)
You: Hahaha
Me: That’s way weird that we’re both eating the same thing tonight. You realize that don’t you? (I was pretty freaked out.)
You: Super weird

So although we are thousands of miles away from each other and our time zone difference makes me three hours later than you, we were both cooking and eating the exact same meal at the same time. In a way, that’s comforting and awesome. We have a connection that goes beyond words which is another reason I feel grateful for you.

I hope you enjoy these cute pictures of yourself. Your dad and I always loved the red phone pictures. You were always playing “phone” when you were little. It was hilarious because you would pick up the phone, lay it on your shoulder instead of up to your ear and say, “Hello!” Such cuteness!

I hope that April 15, 2015, turns out to be a very, very, very Happy Birthday. Thank you for being my daughter. I love you immensely, forever and always, to infinity and beyond.

Mom