You know what is lame?

Spending Mother's Day without your Mom. What day makes you want to cozy up in homey comforts and give your Mom a hug more than this? And since I can't hug her myself, I spend a lot of energy trying to envisions the perfect (well, practically that good) gift to make up for it. But if you can't spend time with her, what do you give the woman who gave you everything in life from a college education to your smile and a love of fantasy novels and... oh yeah- life itself ? Is there an e-card for that?

To really put the pin in the feeling of "I wish I could hug my own Mom right now," I ran in the Race for the Cure this morning. I mentioned that in Pittsburgh, this is qualified as a MAJOR event, with an estimated 40,000 people turning out to cheer on the Mother's, sisters daughters and survivors that battle breast cancer. Many people wore signs on their back saying "I race for ____." Which kinda makes you a little teary. The family I raced with (my ceramics partner's large, Pittsburgh, BRAC1 positive family) wore signed Celebrating Mom, Two Aunts and One Uncle, In Memory of Grandma and One Cousin. How powerful that they could all race together, really supporting each other, and just be present? It makes me feel a little like I've abandoned my own mother- even if she insists that she doesn't need a trio of children tending to her every need at Virginia Mason for a fairly routine procedure.

The longer I live away from my mother, the more I miss her- but the more I value the connection that we can have as adults, despite the distance. It also makes me treasure the impact that she has had on my life in helping to sculpt me as the goofy-logical-caring-chef-scientist I like to think that I am. So here is to you Mom (someone get her a mimosa!), I hope that you find this mother's day that you already have everything a Mother could ask for, minus a hug.

*****

In parallel news: Happy One Year Anniversary to the Preecs Place. As Dad put it, no Mother's Day gift can top the blog- so this year, to celebrate we are going to KEEP BLOGGING! Please enjoy the Mom-centric new slideshow in the sidebar. And extra Happy Mother's Day to Grandma and Nana- thanks for giving us great parents!