The scent of cinnamon rolls woke me up. Making my way downstairs I remember going around the corner and seeing my sister sitting at the bar stool and mom standing in the kitchen in her maroon robe. She was boiling soup on the stove to place in a thermos for my lunch. I remember getting dressed and heading out to the bus stop but not before mom buttoned, zipped and tied my coat and made sure my hat was snug on my head. Every morning she would kneel down and button, zip, tie. Every morning. She never complained about helping me and she was truly concerned about keeping me warm outside. She would send me on my way out the door to the bus stop which was right in front of our home. I would be standing on the curb when I looked up at my house and I saw my mom looking out the upstairs window. She watched from the upstairs window until the bus came down the street. As I stepped on the bus we would wave to each other and that's how it went everyday. After school I would head straight inside where mom would have a snack waiting and the Cosby show turned on. In the evenings after she put me to bed she would go wash her face. I listened to running water from her bathroom sink and I would fall asleep to the sound of that every night. Looking back on those memories they are comforting. During that time in my life I felt loved, warm, protected, safe.
People talk about comfort food and what foods take them back to their childhood. I don't really have a comfort food, I have comfort memories. It breaks my heart to think of children whose mom's don't feed them, clothe them, care for them, love and nurture them. It makes me that much more thankful for the life I grew up in and thankful for how my mom and dad raised me.
My mom was my best friend and still holds that title to this day. I have never been one to have a lot of friends. I had my close circle of 1-2 friends during the school years and that was it. I never wanted to go to the movies or the mall, I never wanted to go to sleepovers or go play volleyball. I wanted to stay home and see my mom. She created such a peaceful environment that I didn't want to be away from that.
One day A&E will have memories of their childhood and I can only hope that they look back on it with the same love for me as I have for you. I love you Mom with my entire heart.
