this pretty lady has been teaching me since the day i was born.

from crucial daily tasks like how to tie bunny ears on my lace-up shoes, how to brush my hair back into the perfect high ponytail, how to properly pucker my lips when applying a shot of color, how to correctly apply mascara (you know, with your mouth wide open), how to write a perfectly shaped B, how to sing from the gut instead of the throat, how to fake the perfect salon-bought manicure, & how to cover up a mis-hap with the unruly nail polish remover (hello, coaster!), 

to important life lessons like actions mean more than words, hard work will always pay off, a good attitude means everything, never give up, a good education can never be taken away from you, don’t compare yourselves to others as you never know their background, retail therapy can make a difference (just be smart about each purchase), stopping at starbucks [twice a day] for a venti latte is totally justifiable, be a true woman of integrity, never give up on your dreams, fight like hell & appreciate the victory, don’t ever forget your family-your real cheerleaders in this thing we call life, laughter is the best remedy-as is ice cream-as is chocolate, waffles need to be consumed at least once a month, saying i love you never gets old if you truly mean it, 

& finally, she has taught me the true value of being a daughter of a mother who loves to her core, who always favors kindness, who treats strangers like friends, who would give anything for her family, who stops what she’s doing at the drop of a hat to lend a listening ear, who spends more non-billable hours in her classroom than any other teacher i know, & who loves each & every student like they are her own.

for all of these reasons (& so many more), i am proud to announce that this woman, my lovely mother, Mama J, has won TEACHER OF THE YEAR in our quaint city made up of eight schools & two hundred & forty one teachers!!!

it is a title i personally bestow upon her each & every year, but one i am thrilled is officially attached to her long list of accolades by someone (read: ahem, many anonymous voters) other than yours truly!

love you, mama!

besos,

B

(picture taken in a little Nebraska hotel, June, 2010)