Yesterday was another reminder of how much my mother meant to me. She passed away in 1998. Yet, it still hurts and I suppose it always will. It hurt to see all the number of people taking their mothers to dinner. I felt like telling every one of them to treasure these moments. I wish someone would have told me that while my mother was still alive. I took Mother's Day for granted while Mama was alive because I never even thought about her dying one day. But, that day did come and go. I also realize that those I saw taking their mothers to dinner will one day not have her around on Mother's Day. Like I did, they probably are not thinking about that while their mother is alive. I don't blame them. It's easy to take someone for granted that has always been there for you. I know you shouldn't. But, it's just human nature to do so, I believe.

Yesterday, I took flowers out to my mother's gravesite, as well to my little sister's gravesite. She was killed in an accident at home in 1989. She had been married for just six months and was only 25 years old. She never had a chance to become a mother. I know Mama would have wanted us to lay flowers at her gravesite also. And we did. As I laid the flowers down by both sites (they are buried side by side), I noticed all the many, many other people who were paying respects to their mothers yesterday. It was sad seeing that. I don't agree that "misery loves company." I don't like seeing other people suffer. But, I knew, at least, I was not alone on that day. Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant once said on a BellSouth commercial, "Have you called your Mama today? I sure wish I could call mine." So do I, coach, so do I.