I am thinking about my Mother Jo Anne, I chatted with her today,
 Her and Dad, live a couple Thousand Miles away
 They live In New Hampshire, to me she is Dear,
 Don't see my Family much, especially since I now live here,
 In Arizona, ever since 95, when, I Attended the CCB,
 Every other year,  Mom and Family, Darrell and I do see,
The Colorado Center for the blind,, ,
 She is often on my mind ,
Wonder how they are, how they have been,
Reflecting back, to when I was about 10,
 And even the years in New Jersey,when much younger, Very little Karen,
 She was nurturing, supportive and  Caring.
Both her and Dad helped me on the pattering program, through it all,
Every since, I can remember, I do recall,
   They taught me to walk, talk, run and crawl,
 Developmentally, they needed me to  get up to  speed,
 Keep up with children my age, learn to read,
 And do  other things,
She  would give me Tea parties and with  me would play on the swings,
 Our teeter totter in our backyard,
 In School, she expected me to work hard,
 So, would Dad,
And if, I was  bad,
 I would  be punished we were disciplined, structure, they did provide,
 But, she also taught me how to ride
 When I was 3,my  trike,
Then  older, my two-wheeler bike,
 Yet, the training  wheels I did need, but, she spent the time, she did,
 She did her best, to allow me to be a normal kid.
 She would read me stories at bedtime and  give me a bath,
And , Though, Dad was the  one, who helped me in math,
 She was also really involved in my Education, help me every step of the
way,
 Was their on every Graduation  day,
As well as When, I became a Bride,
And  though, she was happy, maybe, she cried?
  She attend the High School Musical I was in and the Choir Concerts,
And tried to make me feel better, when I was upset or got hurt.
 She was over protective, I must say,
Yet, she  did not mind , that I did play
  When, I was born, I was   not only blind, but, had a injury to my brain,
 My folks, made sure, I could learn, information I could retain
 By age 5, I was ready for Kindergarten,
 Gave me my milk money, it was  in a small  Carton,
 I am sure, that was a special day for her?  and for me, myself and I?,
 I think, I had fun, and did not cry?
She taught me how to eat, bathe and  to dress
 And was there when I read my first  Book, Ballerina Bess
 She   helped me with  vocabulary and to write,
And was there in  the Hospital with me, when I lost my sight,
When, I had the  flu and Chicken Pox,
As well as, at College, first blind, help  me to organize my closet and
match my  socks
 Since, I couldn't yet efficiently read Braille, she used puffy paint  , it
was raised, and it, I could read,
Was there, when I hurt myself, my left foot, it did bleed
 That,  was  back  in 84,
And I do remember, the walks on the shore,
 Did Show me sea life  in Maine, on the beach
 And other  things, she  would teach,
  Help with Geography and long division,
And was there, after surgery, to re-patch my eye, was careful, not to tare
the incision
  We played vocabulary games  and ones to learn fractions  too,
  Other activities with my sisters and I, she  would do,
She was the  Leader  of our Brownie  troop, and encouraged me, when I took
Ballet
Or an instrument I wanted to play
First, the Clarinet, the flute and last the Piano
 Then, years, later, to   ski in  snow,
Or swim, When on vacations, in Kennebunkport we would go,
 She would go on class field  trips, like to the Museum or the U N,
 Also, taught me to handwrite with a pen.
She would take us  to have picnics in the park or to the zoo,
Or we would play board games, like, scrabble or monopoly ,not clue
 Or ,Card games, like go Fish,
And on our Birthday's, would make our Favorite dish
 And  cake
 And  would put  our favorite sandwhich's,snacks,special notes in our lunch,
And at home, would make her infamous, Mc egg sandwich for brunch,
Or waffles with peanut butter   and honey
And always, made sure we had on sun block on, when, it was hot and  sunny,
 And made us  chicken soup  or hot chocolate, when, it was blistering cold
outdoors,
And taught me how to do chores
 Clean my room, bathrooms,vacuum, dust and Laundry,
 Independent, she wanted us to be,
Sometimes cook,
 They had the same expectations, extra time, she took,
 To show me, since, I had limited sight,
As well as taught me values, wrong from right.
 Of course, like any   relationship, it wasn't perfect no relationship is,
but, still, she is great
 Over, the years, we couldn't always effectively communicate
 And each other, we did and still not always understand,
But, she tries to be supportive, in the jobs I land
 And when, I was in College and wanted to change majors for a second time
,transfer schools and move out west, ,
 She did not always agree, but, did her best,
To encourage me yet, sometimes we would argue
, , However, always saw it through,
Many times in High School, She would tell me, No discussion! I would ask
why?
 Thought she was unfair, did not understand, and I would cry,
Go to my room, and be upset and Sad,
And Later, Mom would feel bad.
 We always Work it out, Growing up, especially as a teen, we   had conflicts
a lot,
Despite all this, love her a lot
 She is my Mom, after all,
 She was there, from the time I was small, till today,
And even though, I am so far away,
 I do miss her, and know, I can depend
 Not as close to her, as my friends,
 But, know, if I really needed her, she would be there for me,
And, that is how it should be
 So, though, Mom, I cannot be home for your  special day,
Sending you Mother's Day wishes, from far away,
Hope your day, is a great one,
And now, this Mother's Day dose is done.
 Love you Mom, Happy Mother's Day!