I can not begin to thank my mother for everything that she given me throughout my life. She brought me into this world, she loved me then, she loves me now, and she always will. From the first time that she hugged me when I was a newborn, to all the advice she gives me in the present time, she makes the good times better and the bad times durable.

She not only brought into me a loving home but into a loving family. She and my aunts and uncles showed me so much love and unique experiences that I will never forget. I have unique relationships with all of my aunts and uncles and all of it I owe to my mother.

My mother gave me not only a great life but also one of the best gifts a person can ever ask for: the gift of a great grandmother who always had ice cream or macaroni salad or whatever her grandchildren wanted when they showed up to her house.

Coming from the person who loves his birthday, just as much as he loves his friends, family, and his beloved New York Mets, I have learned from my mother, the queen of birthdays, how to appreciate my birthday.

My mother also gave me unique relationships with my cousins Thomas, Joe, Michelle, and Hope who have always been there for me and will continue to be there for me.

She has taught me to love everything in life, from family to the vacations I have been fortunate to go on. There is no way I can thank her for all of the trips she has brought me and my brother on.

I’ll never forget how crazy we thought all those people who had dogs were, because of how much they all loved their dogs. It all started with Lady Butterscotch, her beloved Ruby, who always knew when something was wrong. It now lives on with Finnegan, the love for animals that she distilled into my brother and I. All of the love we have for Finnegan: people might think we’re crazy.

How can I close this article without thanking her, for perhaps one of the greatest blessings in my life, if not the greatest? Sure, my brother and I fight sometimes yet we would do anything for each other. I wonder how we fight and yet would do anything for each other, and it is all because of my mother.

Mom, there are times when I love you to the ends of the Earth, or as we say, to Pluto and back. I know that I will always be your Niblet. All of the things that I am thankful for in life have they have mostly come from you, no matter if it’s Francis, Finnegan or our extended family. I appreciate everything you do for me, and I am thankful to God for it every day. Yes Mom, that includes the days that we fight. I love you, I am thankful that you are my mother. I love you, as I sit here holding back tears writing this last paragraph.