Journey of a Thousand Miles...

My dad (Papa) was the most incredible man.  I know everyone says that about their dads, especially today, but I truly had the market cornered on the most incredible dad in the world. He walked into a ready made family when he married my mom and he embraced us as if we were biologically his. Biology never mattered to him.  All that mattered was a truly special love that he had for us. Each day we had with my dad was a beautiful, precious and wonderful gift.  Every hug magically made all the problems going on disappear.  Every talk and seemingly mundane moment was special. Every single time something made him laugh out loud (not an easy feat) was a moment that lit up whatever room he was in. He took in the world and I got to be with him when he experienced some amazing things... He loved baseball and I sat with him when the Boston Red Sox broke the curse of the Bambino.  I sat on the edge of my seat with him when the Philadelphia Phillies​ won the World Serie...

I recently saw an interview with a recent recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor.  He was asked what he was thinking when he put himself in harm's way to save his fellow soldier.  He said (and I am paraphrasing here) that when you are in the military you are taught to not think about yourself.  Instead, you think about the people to the left of you and the right of you.  You do everything to protect them. That is what he did when a member of his unit was being taken by someone in the Taliban.  This brave soldier went after his friend, pulled him to safety while fending off the Taliban. As I watched this, I immediately thought of my mom.  My mom was never in the military, but she has certainly been through the hell. I have been trying to write this for days, but I am finding it hard to come up with the words to truly express what my mom means to me.  How do you thank the person who stayed in a less than ideal marriage simply so she co...