Thank you, Andie. I hope all mothers had a good day.
Joann, my driver, and I set off for Hopland, about 50 miles south of here, to meet up with Linda, Brian and Trevor, who came 50 miles north for the occasion.
We had M'Day brunch at the Brutaco (sp) winery, home of the famous 2-Buck-Chuck. A wonderful buffet, a good variety of food, congenial wait-staff - what more can one want in addition to daughters, son-in law and Grandson - that boy is
getting far too tall and far too good-looking for his own good.
A great drive through the vineyards, all nice and green and a huge pasture with many mares and foals, all the foals were stretched out in the sun while the Moms were grazing, what a pretty picture - if I had brought my camera, that is.

I've been reading Friedman for years and don't remember his mentioning his mother. This was a very poignant column and I missed it. Thanks for sharing it with us Andie. I miss my mother a lot sometimes..like today. `Dementia stole the time we finally were going to have together when they moved here as we had been living across the country from each other almost since I graduated college. Sure wish we could have had some mother/daughter time before she passed away 8 years ago.

Awoke to rain, and it rained all day. There were minimal customers today at the g'houses, and I was thankful, after a grueling week leading up to the event today.

My mother died about a week before Mother's Day last year. So this was the first 'special' day where it wasn't the first one without her. My dd and I visited her grave today and she, my mother and I were like the Three Musketeers. Our lives were very much intertwined. We lost not only a mother and a grandmother, but a delightful, loving and faithful friend and companion.

By some standards, my Mama led a tragic and difficult life in her early years, but it never stopped her from being the most confidant, modest and capable woman I've ever known. She projected such an air of innocence and optimism, but you knew in her long life she'd seen a lot, and somehow integrated it into perspective and always tackled each hurdle with a smile and never looked back.

She was our steadfast cheering section, lol. Always there to listen, to assure and to make us feel like there was no way but up and a sunny day. I was very blessed.