This was some damn hood barbecue! #vacation #barbecue #bbq #northcarolina #mtairy #mayberry
I know I don’t talk about my mom much because frankly, it’s just too painful. My mother has not passed away, but I still do not get to spend Mother’s Day with her. We are worlds apart when it comes to such things as religion, so I don’t have the privilege to say this to her directly, but say it still, I shall. I may not agree with what my mom believes, but I still would not be here today were it not for her. She taught me a lot of invaluable life lessons during my first 20 years of life, and even though it was me who walked away, I have spent every moment trying to become a person that I know she would be proud of if we ever get the chance to restore our relationship. I watched that woman work her way up from a low paying file clerk at the health department to the director of the entire health department system of our county. She never went to a day of college, and her spirit and determination to always be the best that she could be has inspired me in my own professional endeavors. She was always doing crazy things and saying crazy things that embarrassed the hell out of me when I was young, but the older I get, the more I realize that I am just exactly like her in this. She didn’t mind if people stared as she pranced down the hallway leading into the Washington DC subway tunnels in her ankle length dress, long sleeves, and hair in a bun, while singing “You Are My Sunshine” at the top of her lungs. I’m proud of my warped and weird sense of humor, and I know now that it all comes directly from her. I love you so much, Mom, and I can’t wait to say that one day to your face again.
Day 1 complete of my first Whole30 challenge. It was rough, but I made it through. As I lay here unable to sleep because of my excruciating neck, shoulder, and head pain, I find myself hopeful that this program will finally tell me if the food I eat is causing my health and pain issues. So many of these were solved when I went gluten free 2 years ago and then dairy free about a month ago, but the really annoying muscle and joint pain, along with horrible seasonal allergies has had me wanting to find the root causes. Anyway, I don’t know why I am rambling on about all this when all I really need to do is try to go to sleep. Tips for tomorrow… Drink more water!!!!!
The next month will probably have many posts like this. I apologize in advance for any whiny-ness that may ensue.
