MOTHER'S DAY 2006

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

When my daughter was 15 years old she was inducted into the National Honor Society at her high school. That was the last time I saw her. She is now 31 years old. She refused to talk to me, see me, or explain to me what was wrong. I had no idea how I suddenly lost her. I finally found her a few months ago and she agreed to talk to me via emails and phone calls. She told me the reason she stopped talking to me was because I brought my boyfriend to the NHS ceremony and vowed that she would never talk to me again. WTF???? I was living in Wisconsin at the time, she in Minnesota with her dad. I did not have a vehicle, but there was no way I could miss this important time in her life. I asked my mother to come get me; "no, too far to drive". I asked my girlfriend if I could borrow her car; "no". I asked my boyfriend if I could use his car; "no", but he would take me. I was desperate; I needed to be there for her even if it meant bringing someone along who she had never met.But that was then, this is now, and I had found her again and we were on our way to making amends.

"Let's take this slow" was her request; I agreed. So, we've been emailing and phoning each other and getting to know each other again. I sent her a Christmas present, she sent me one.Every Mother's Day there is at least one article in the newspapers about families finding each other after years of separation. They are mostly all alike; long-lost family member found, phone call, and a joyful in-person reunion that the media covers. I always cry when I read those articles, wishing that someday the story would be about my daughter and I. So, Mother's Day, 2006 was approaching and I was excitedly expecting my first Mother's Day card from her in 16 years. I started looking for it in the mail on Wednesday, May 10th. No big deal, there was still plenty of time for it to get here. Thursday and Friday came and went with no card. Saturday, no card. Oh well, she's busy, maybe it got mailed late and I will get it on Monday or Tuesday.

Sunday May 14th, Mother's Day, my husband asked if I'd like to go out to lunch. I couldn't leave the house, surely my daughter would have enough time to at least call me. As the day passed and the phone didn't ring, I grew more and more depressed.Monday and Tuesday passed and the card I was so sure that had been mailed late, never arrived. I haven't heard from her as of yet, either. I am hurt; terribly hurt. I have cried every Mother's Day for over 16 years, why did I expect this one to be any different?