On my Mom's last day on this earth, she insisted that she be dressed up and put on makeup. That her hair was big, because duh, she's from the south. Twenty minutes before this, my mother insisted that she be allowed to go home. And because she was agnostic, she had no clue of her destination. She was, however, certain that she had sucked all the juice out of this life. And as she was surrounded by her tight circle, she asked for us to chin up and let her go. My Mom is the epitome of strength, and I am proud of everything she has taught me. My mom's and my Mom's story has not always been a fairytale, but at the core of who I am is a legacy of some Boss Ass Women! Trailblazers, if you will. And over the last few years, I have gained an understanding that allowed me to release my Mom without fear. My Mom provided me with the definition of love that I never forgot. It is how I live my life. Love is something you do; it is an action word. And that has been my compass as I navigate life. She loved who she loved and did not waver. My Mom did not become weak and switch up at the end; there was no desire to reach out to people in a fake attempt at reconciliation. Anyone who truly knew my Mom knew you had to love Salome consistently or not at all. And if you did not, she was perfectly ok with that, too. My Mom insisted that we be happy. She told me that she could not be happy on her spiritual journey if she knew I was not happy. She insisted that we laugh in her name. She freed us of the guilt that comes when you laugh or smile after your loved one leaves. We were relieved of the shame of rejoicing. And for that, I will be eternally grateful. As I find my balance and life without her becomes normal, I look forward to imagining that my laughter raises her higher. I know wherever she is, she is happy and that she is proud of the family she created with my Stepdad. He only has the title of stepdad to not confuse people who knew my and my brother's biological dads, whom we loved dearly as well. In this case, Stepdad is a title of the highest honor because, from day one, he has stepped up for all of us. We are sad, but we are blessed. So blessed. God is good...