Mom-orial Day

It's Friday before Memorial Day Weekend, and school has been out for one week. Today I am picking up my mom-in-law and she is staying the weekend, and I'm excited. You see, I have the BEST mother-in-law ever! I practically shout it if the topic of mothers-in-law comes up. Most of my friends roll their eyes when I mention that she is staying wth us a few days, giving me the signal that they sympathize - after all, how much fun can she be? Then I tell them that I love my MIL and enjoy her visits. Then, the response is "Wow, you are really lucky." Yes, yes I am! Each time she visits, a part of me pretends it's my mom who is sitting at the breakfast table sharing coffee with me. My mom has been gone 7 years. I'm reminded of this every day when I look at my beautiful daughter, who reminds me of mom in so many ways. If it weren't for Erica, I would not have been able to get through these 7 years. She fills up the hole that my mother's death left. I see life through mom's eyes now - I look down at mom's hands - I glimpse mom in the mirror on occasion. I feel her with me often. I always see her in the face of my daughter. I miss her.