What can I say about my mom? There’s so much to say, but it still doesn’t feel like enough. She was a gentle, kind, and loving soul, with a heart that knew no limits. She had a generosity that touched everyone she met. But beyond that, she had this quick wit that kept us all on our toes and made sure there was never a dull moment.

If I said something smart-aleck, she was always the first to hit me with a sharp comeback, making everyone crack up. It was like her way of keeping things light and fun. And let’s not forget the little "mom loophole" she had when we were in trouble. When we kids did something wrong and got grounded, Mom would always find a way to let us off the hook—especially when Dad wasn’t around. I’m pretty sure he never knew about her “secret pardons.”

She would always warn us, "If you’re not home before your dad gets here, you're grounded for twice as long!" So, we'd all rush to make sure we were back in our rooms just in time, making sure it stayed our little secret. Classic Mom, always keeping the peace while keeping us on our toes.

I have so many stories to tell, but I will start with this one first. 

When I was a little girl, my mom would always fix a snack for me and my friends after school. Then she'd tell us it was time to go outside and play so she and my dad could take a nap. She’d lock the front door and crank up Elvis—loud. We’d take off to Kimberly’s house, three doors down, wondering how on earth my mom could sleep with the music blasting like that.

Fast forward about 40 years, and my brother Tommy finally clued me in on what was really going on. I didn’t believe him, so I asked my mom—and she started laughing so hard she had tears running down her face. Between laughs, she said, “And you’re just now figuring that out?”

I don’t think she stopped laughing for at least 15 minutes. We were all cracking up—just like she always made us do.