Happy 4th of July!

I hope you are having a wonderful and blessed 4th.  I wanted to share with you one of my favorite all time classic 4th of July moments.  This photo, of my Mom Nancy, was taken in the mid-80's.  My Mom crafted her little Statue of Liberty outfit herself, making her crown out of foil.

She stood and waved at passersby at a July 4 parade in Sausalito.  Isn't she adorable?

Nancy Diane, my Mama

It's hard to believe my Mom has been gone 21 years now, another beloved lost to cancer.  She died of renal cell cancer at the age of 46.  My Mom was not a smoker, but was a musician, playing in smoky clubs and bars most of her life.  Her doctors were convinced she was a real statistic of the effects of second hand smoke.

As a late teen, Mom lied about her age, saying she was 21 in order to play in a club, while my Dad was still in college.  She played in smoke filled rooms for the next twenty five years of her life.

Oh how I have missed the presence of my Mother through all these years; I got pregnant with Batman, my oldest son, a month after her passing.

I can't help but think about her today, how proud she would be of me.

I have so much to celebrate this summer, wow, a real summer!  You have no idea how fantastic it is to have a whole summer, not in chemo, and WITH HAIR!

Wheeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!

It's the little things Baby.  The little things are the big things.

Much love to you today, Dear Reader, as we celebrate our fabulous country!

I love you Mom; I got the best of you and your spirit and sense of humor, and I got the best from Dad too, especially "When the going gets tough, the tough get going!"

Do what you can, where you are, 99% of life is just showing up!

Happy 4th!