Dear Mom,

I know you might think this is silly for writing you a letter instead of telling you in person, but you know how emotional I get, so here goes nothing.

The doctors told you the odds of me being born brainless, and me not moving didn't ease your worries. You scarified a lot when you were pregnant with me: college and giving up your dream job, to stay in the city to raise your daughter. You became a single mother when I was born, you had a lot of help and knew that you were going to be a great mother. Tragedy struck six months after I was born, yet you were still strong when you wanted to break. As I grew up, I didn't know that I could love someone unconditionally until I knew that I love you unconditionally. We've been through a lot before '97: death, bad relationships, etc. I remember you coming to my school, taking some time off of work to see me at school, and giving me something for Valentine's Day every year.

We've been close all my life, but I think we became best friends last year while I was driving you around to work and to therapy and dealing with yet another tragic death. While one of my best friends was out of the country, you were there for me, cheering me on like you always did, not giving up on me, making me a better woman. As I grew up, I remembered that none of the girls wanted to grow up to be their mom, but I have always wanted to be you. The fearlessness that you have, the strength that you have, the mentality and the strength that you have no matter what. As I grow each year, I am reminded how lucky I have been to have a great mother who has been my perfect fan through everything, and who has been my rock.

When I have my own kids, I wish I'll be a great mother like you because I would never trade anything for the world.

I want to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being the perfect fan. I'm going to quote Backstreet Boys now because its true and it relates how our relationship is.

'Cause mom you always were
The perfect fan

"You showed me how to love
You showed me how to care
And you showed me that you would always be there
I wanna thank you for that time
And I'm proud to say you're mine"

I love you mom. Very much so.