i can’t tell you how relieved i am for february to be coming to a close. it’s a long cold month and always gives me the blues. i kind of hibernated my way through it, but it still has managed to leave me a little fragile. we’re in the middle of a foot or two of snow, and the last 11 songs on my itunes shuffle were about sunny warm beaches…not nice.

hope you’re all weathering it well. there are brighter times ahead to be sure. (according to my calendar, in 22 days we will be partying in the World of Mickey with the rest of the Casey Fam!)

. . .

this is a picture of my mama, who is beautiful even when she’s sad. in this picture she was sad because we were saying goodbye. this week she’s been a little sad because of her birthday (she’s only 57 this year. i don’t quite understand the math, but i’m pretty sure mom and i are getting closer in age). she gets a little caught in her head sometimes, missing the people that we’ve lost, replaying the life she’s lived so far, deciding what to do next.

all i can say is this: my mother is the strongest person i’ve ever known. the things she’s been through…well, you wouldn’t believe me if i told you, so let’s just say there have been many many challenges on the way. she never made her struggles mine, but she never hid her real life from me, either (i believe that gave me strength, too, and the honesty she’s always given me is something i treasure). for many years of my young-childhood it was just the two of us, and despite how difficult those days must have been, i remember laughing a lot, playing a lot, reading a lot, singing a lot, and truly enjoying each other’s company. we’re tied together pretty tightly, which sometimes makes life a little difficult for both of us, but also makes us both terribly lucky. i know her inside and out, i’m grateful for her love and support, and i love her more than words could ever express.

happy belated birthday mom. you are, always have been, always will be my hero, my favorite poet, my dearest friend.

xoxo