Moms, I have mine and others as well

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. Whether you believe it is contrived by corporate America or it is one of the most important days of your year just understand that there are mothers out there who are looking forward to it. I am very fortunate that I have my mother in my life. Actually, she is way in my life. Not only do we live in the same little village, we live on the same street, and heck we actually live right next door to one another. I’ve spouted a couple of times about my mom and she is very worthy. I love her immensely and I think she is aware. We actually celebrated Mother’s Day tonight. We had a great dinner and some outstanding ice cream. Tomorrow, I will celebrate Mother’s Day with Michelle and Brianna at the barn so that mother and daughter can share their love of horses together. I have been around for almost forty years now and have been highly influenced by my mother. I have also been influenced by many other mothers throughout the years. Tonight I am going to speak about them and how, if we just think about where we have been, they have been around me, guiding me for all of these years. Since I was a little kid I have been fortunate to have some great motherly influences. Obviously, my mom has been there for everything good and bad that I have done. I also have the great fortune to have a great step-mom. Stella could have easily resented my sister and me and how much time we demanded from our dad, but instead she jumped into our lives and became an integral part of our growth and maturation throughout our childhoods. Without much of her travel knowledge my tennis career would have been a lot more difficult. It was always pretty cool to be able to hop a plane and check into a hotel all because she had made the best plans for me. I will never forget those 6 in the morning car rides with a pan full of ham and egg biscuits on the way to another tennis tournament. To this day I still crave those biscuits. Family aside, some of my friends’ mothers have been protectors and guidance counselors as well. From elementary school days there were many. How many days did I spend on Lake Hartridge at the Muller’s and Howard’s residences? The moms would feed us, pull us on the boat, take us to the tennis courts, the movies, and wherever else our minds could think of. Mrs. Briggs would feed us, let us dive off the rocks into the pool, and completely overrun her beautiful home. Sitting on the family boat and watching the Cypress Gardens ski show was always an awesome experience. My elementary days were amazing. I went to a small private school and the moms were there all the time. We had amazing field trips, science projects, and theater plays. Yes, I performed on stage when I was a young man. Once we moved to high school the same moms were around but more came into my life. Mrs. Irwin kept me looking good by cutting my hair and understanding that boys would be boys. Hers was a great tennis player and boy could he cut it loose as well. I had the chance to train and work at Lake Region Yacht and Country Club. Maybe it was my charming personality or maybe the moms just thought I was a good kid. Either way that place opened many doors for me. One of the moms that I spent many hours with going over dreams and thoughts was Mrs. Lingenfelter. She is now Mrs. Bostick but those moments with her made me realize that I had much to learn and to never let go of your dreams. I truly enjoyed watching her two awesome children, Scott and Jenny. Those two kids had amazing energy and it was always a pleasure watching them learn from their mom. After high school it was time for college. When I left for Lees-McRae I was somewhat apprehensive. Even though I had spent my life traveling I always had a home base to run back to if necessary. Once in the mountains of North Carolina I was alone. No moms anywhere. In steps Mrs. Gupton, the head coach’s wife. She invited the players over to the house for dinner, to watch tennis we couldn’t get on our campus channels, and how to make incredibly good sweet tea in the microwave. Time passes and I have lost touch with all of the extra mothers I have known. This is one of the weak traits I am cursed with. Even though I don’t speak to them any more I still feel appreciative for their guidance throughout the years. That leads me to the present. I am now married and have gained a mother-in-law, grandmother-in-laws, and mothers of friends of my wife. No matter where I go the influence of motherly guidance is all around. Not only do I have an amazing mother, her network of mothers has been watching out for me the entire time. To all the moms out there, thank you and please know that no matter where you are someone out there is thankful for what you did for them. To my own moms: I love you and Happy Mother’s Day. To my wife: You are an amazing mother and I am so glad that I get to share the growth of our beautiful daughter together. I love you and let’s have a great day at the barn during your Mother’s Day, after a great breakfast at Fat Boy’s!