Today is my adopted mom’s birthday. I say adopted mom because I deemed her my local mom years ago when my parents lived over 8 hours away. We met when we worked together at the same college. She’s been my stand-in mom and friend for over 20 years.

Usually we are able to get together periodically for wine and snacks and lots of chatting, but since the pandemic and my diagnosis, we haven’t been able to. But she sends me cute and funny texts every day.

I’m super thankful to have had her in my life for so long, and I’m grateful to have seen her briefly when I dropped something off for her birthday. I can’t wait til we can get together in person again!