The U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps., and U.S. Coast Guard have a tradition where active military ships recently deployed in overseas operations dock in a variety of major cities for one week. The crews enter the city and visit tourist attractions. ​

​I love our American values. Please don't change them. My beloved grandson is graduating from Annapolis this weekend. We congratulate him and his beautiful young companions at Annapolis. The famed Blue Angels will fly over the Annapolis Graduation services. So exciting and spectacular! We are so proud of you all! 

It's graduation time, not only at Annapolis but all across the land. Congratulations to my other grandchildren who are graduating, and those who are already fulfilling a work career. 

We respect our constitution, our American Flag, and the young men and women who will be instrumental in developing a better world.
 
And again, IT'S FLEET WEEK.............WELCOME !!!! 
​

​Be assured, I truly believed this was just a luncheon with my children. It had been a long time since we were all together in one room. When my son and daughter-in-law, who reside in Florida, offered to host it at their country club, I was happy to come as a guest.
 
My husband and I arrived at the Country Club, along with my youngest daughter from New York and her fiancé. My son was guiding us through the dining room.
 
My first FEELING was one of annoyance that we had to walk so far into the dining room.  (Oh well, no-one ever listens to me)
 
There were curtains ahead of us sectioning off a room of the club, and my son kept saying that he wanted us to see the new renovations the club had made.
(Oh, can’t walk so far, why do I care?)

He parted the curtains and I saw a blur of people at tables in front of me. I turned to him and said, “This is a private party, let’s go.”  Then I heard an exuberant crowd yelling,
                   “SURPRISE”……HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”
I thought, “OMG, THIS IS FOR ME!!  
                  OMG, I SHOULD HAVE HAD MY HAIR DONE! 
                  OMG, I would have worn something else….
                  And then, OMG I never had a surprise party before…….
 
                 MY HEART STARTED PUMPING HARD! I am so EXCITED!!”
 
My daughter, who resides in Florida, came rushing towards me, hugging and yelling “surprise.” My son from New York came over and exuberantly kissed me. My grandchildren flooded towards me...….
(I can’t believe it. This is thrilling…….)
 
Then I turned to the table to my right and was totally taken aback that my childhood friends were sitting there….I hugged them and started to cry.
(How did they get here?)
 
My husband sent an uber for them. Then it hit me, my husband and I are together 24/7. How did he do this without my knowing? And my Florida son and daughter-in-law were his accomplices.” 
(Never thought anything would get by me, but….IT DID!)
 
Then I turned and saw all my beautiful family and friends that filled the room. It looked like more than 40 people.
 
STILL AMAZED, I THOUGHT, 
This is for me…..I can’t believe it.   
I am so thrilled  and so grateful for all of you in my life.
 
I GREETED EVERYONE….There was FABULOUS FUN, FABULOUS FOOD, FABULOUS PICTURES, FABULOUS CAKE, AND TABLE WTH A LARGE POSTER OF MY FIRST BOOK. WOW! EVERYONE SIGNED IT…..AND…..BEAUTIFUL GIFTS, WITH THE MOST FABULOUS HUSBAND, CHILDREN, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS ANYONE IN THIS WORLD COULD WANT.”

Dear Moms and Families: 
​
Did you know: It starts in Exodus 20:12: 
                         "Honor thy Father and Mother" 
And continues to Leviticus 19:3: 
                         "Everyone of you shall revere his mother and his father." 

In 1868 Ann Reeves Jarvis organized "Mothers' Friendship Day”. 
In 1870, Suffragette, Julia Ward Howe campaigned for a Mother's Peace Day In 1905, Anna Jarvis, (daughter of Ann Reeves Jarvis) proposed Mother's Day as a way of honoring her Mother's (Ann Reeves Jarvis) death. She requested funds from John Wannamaker and, In 1908, organized the first Mother's Day Celebration at a church, along with Wannamaker's Event at his retail store in Philadelphia. By 1912, it caught on through many of the states in our country. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill designating the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day and asked all Americans to publicly thank their Mothers.

May 9, 1914, was the first Mother's Day in the United States. 

                                                                 THERE YOU HAVE IT! 

Of course, my mom, in her inimitable fashion would shout: 

                                                      "EVERY DAY IS MOTHER'S DAY." 

​In addition to YOUR MOTHER, WHO UNCONTESTED HOLDS THE FIRST PLACE TITLE, this holiday extends to Aunts, Cousins, Daughters, Stepmothers, Grandmothers, Friends, and what-have-you.