Dear Mom,
When I see roses I think of you. Roses remind me of hours spent tending the dirt gingerly pruning each plant and a look of simple content after days spent in the sun. Watching you tend your garden growing up provided me with patience for nature and an appreciation for the attention needed to bring beauty into our world. I hope that one day I have roses so that you can come to my garden and help me tend them.
Another thing that reminds me of you is Goodwill. Countless hours spent sifting through rows upon rows of used clothing to find that one marvelous thing that some silly person thought was of no use or out of style. It always has amazed me how skilled you are in this endeavor. As much as I may have protested in high school about wearing a used formal dress I am incredibly proud that my dress seldom cost more than $50 and was always unique. It set me apart from the rest of my class and I have you to thank for that. Not to mention, it instilled in me an appreciation of unique used clothing. Why buy something new when you could buy something used for a fraction of the price?
Mom, above all thank you so much for being my Girl Scout leader and encouraging me to continue participation in the program. Many women I know started scouts but quickly left simply because they didn’t have a leader like you. You made scouts fun and took it upon yourself to ensure that we were given diverse experiences and skill sets. Because of your dedication I and other girls were able to horseback ride, sail, rock climb, start a fire without accelerants, and most importantly view the world from other peoples’ perspectives.
I would not be who I am today without your love and guidance.
Happy birthday Mom - may your day be filled with sunshine, roses and love.
Sarah