Not a day goes by....

Today is just one of those days. Although I am productive and getting those items checked off on the "to-do" list, my thoughts are elsewhere.

My mother would have been 79 years old today.

She passed away in August of 1997 -- same weekend as Princess Diana. It was not unexpected -- she had been suffering from a form of senile dementia for quite some time.

But before the disease had ravaged her, she was quite a force of nature. All of 5'4" tall, she commanded our household as only a true Steel Magnolia could -- with grace, charm and absolute devotion to her family. We called her "The Little General." And she was in every way.

One of the most well-read, selfless, brilliant women I have ever had the privilege of knowing. She truly lived up to her name -- "Joy." And there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss her.

When she started her descent into the disease that robbed her of everything she was, none of us could believe it. If anyone could beat this, I thought, it would be this tough as nails lady who was larger than life. I was so terribly and tragically wrong.

While I missed her at my wedding (not to mention all the preparations leading up to that wonderful day) -- I actually miss her more now that my children have been born. She just loved babies and would have formed her entire life around them -- just as she had with me.

My father used to say that I wasn't cut out for the rough and tumble of politics -- that I just didn't have a tough enough skin. There are days I agree with him. Particularly when I see just how awful politics has truly become.

But it is that amazing combination that my mother embodied of absolute strength and grace under fire that I hope I have inherited. Like my mother, I will always be passionate and determined about the issues and people I love -- and like my mother, I will have a heart for those things as well....no matter how many times it is broken or betrayed.

Happy Birthday, Mom. I still miss you.