Thanks, Mom.

I lose things. I always have.

When I was a child, I was late for school because I couldn’t find a clean uniform. As a teenager, I was late for soccer practice, because I couldn’t find my cleats. As an adult, I’m ten minutes late because I can’t find my keys.

In 2007, I lost my mom.

It was a hard death to live through, but I like to think that she’s still around and trying to organize my otherwise unorganized life. This was a woman who could tell you where to find the masking tape when you were painting your room bright pink (kitchen pantry, bottom shelf), the overpriced shoes you want to return (trunk of your car) or your college diploma (top shelf of the desk in your old desk still waiting to be framed).      

This morning, I woke up to my dog whimpering by the door wanting so she could be let out to “do her business.” And again, I spend ten minutes trying to find last summer’s flip flops that I know I dug out of the closet last week.

I’m running upstairs, I’m looking downstairs, I’m searching under the bed, now trying to ignore the growing desperation in my dog’s whimpers. I open the closet one last time in complete frustration and there they are  (third shelf to the left).

I just stood there for a moment amazed. Then, looked up and laughed. Thanks Mom.

On this Mother’s Day, let’s remember and appreciate all of the Mother’s who not only gave us life, but helped us keep it organized.

Happy Mother’s Day.