Most Important Friendship

So, I know you are all sitting there thinking that I have neglected to mention the most important friendship that I have ever had in my life - don't worry, I was just saving the best for last. I know that this is going to sound super corny, but I would have to say that the person who is my best friend, and always has been, is my Mom. (I told you it was corny).

Now, I am not just writing this post because I know she is one of the 3 people that read this blog (well, it might have been a bit more than three this month, but she has been one of the faithful 3). I am writing it because I mean it. I would have to say that my Mom is the best friend I have. I know that most people don't feel that way about their mother's and I feel like that makes me pretty darn lucky. I remember when I was in High School this kid Bill was throwing a huge keg party out at his place. I was standing in the hall talking to a bunch of the other girls about it and they were all saying things like "I told my mom I am staying at so-and-so's house" or "I told my mom that his parents would be there" and other such nonsense. I said "I told my Mom I was going to Bill's kegger." Every person in that conversation (and there were probably about 10 of them) gaped at me. One even asked me to repeat myself. It was weird to them - we were all underage and their parents wouldn't have let them go. They didn't understand that my Mom knew that I was almost an adult and that I was going to make my own decisions, and she knew that they would be good ones. She trusted me, and in turn, I told her the truth. Now, I realize that a lot of this was because of who I am as well as because of how awesome she is, but I think it is very telling of our relationship.

She is one of the most understanding people on the planet. I could tell her anything in the whole world and I feel like she would still love me - and not just because she has to. I guess she got practice being accepting after all the crazy crap that my brother did growing up. There is one thing that I hid from her for about 5 or 6 years while we were growing up - and when I did finally tell her it was a relief. The thing is that I hadn't just been hiding it from her, I had been hiding it from everyone. But when I did finally break down and tell someone, she was the second person I told (JR was the first person actually - but he kinda had to wrench it out of me).

Not only do I feel like I can trust her with anything, but she is also someone that I want to emulate. I have been told before that I look a lot like my Mom (which is totally true), but I hope the resemblance goes deeper than that. She is not only understanding to me, and my brothers, but to everyone. She is caring towards all people and she can make rational decisions in a crisis (I guess that is why she is a good nurse).

She is also one of the smartest people I know. She went to nursing school when I was 14 years old and she graduated from Nursing School the year that my older brother graduated from High School - and even though she went to school 5 days a week driving an hour each way, and she worked almost every single weekend for the entire 2 1/2 years, she still managed to get really good grades. I was so proud of her for that and I regret that I didn't do as well in my college career so that I could make her as proud (not that I did terrible, but compared to her I did - and her circumstances were way tougher than mine). Of course, she never judged me for it, she is still proud of me anyway.

From her I learned everything - from my first steps and first words (thank goodness she taught me my first words - where would we all be if I couldn't talk?) to how to stay cool in a crisis. I learned to love other people, even when they aren't perfect, because they never are. I learned that family is important. I learned the importance of picking my battles, and how to pick the right ones. I learned how to be kind and yet firm. I learned that it is better to be truthful and trusting.