To Mom, Nancy, Valerie...

It's easy to forget how much a son needs his mother.

The need is obvious at first.

Feeding, burping, supporting the head properly.

Cooing and talking softly.

Singing little songs only meant for him.

The cleaning. The kissing of boo-boos.

As a son gets older he might go to school,

and bring home pictures for his mom.

Tell her excitedly about how fast he can run,

or give her a big hug before bedtime

only to crawl back in bed with her when

the storm comes.

As sons grow up, they can tend to get busy

with their own lives. The pictures stop coming.

They might forget for awhile.

But on certain days, and at certain times

they'll think of you. They'll remember your hug

or your laugh. They'll remember how you kept Dad

in check. Or how you stood by their side

when it really mattered. They'll remember your

friendship and guidance as they grew. They will

remember what is was like to be a kid.

To be your kid.

Today is one of those days.

I love you mom.

To all the great mothers out there-- but especially

my mother, my step-mom, and my wife-- Happy Mother's Day.