Happy Mother's Day!

This is a photo of me and my late mom once upon a time. Notice my two gun stance. My ferocious 'take no prisoners' glare. (I've still got both.) I was not then nor am I now, a smiley face.

I think my jacket was red and I had a great cowboy/girl hat which usually hung down my back from that string you see looped around my neck. I was packing heat and meant business.

My mom put up with a lot. She lived to be 89, so I had her with me for a good long while. She's only been gone a couple of years. But guess what: I still miss her. I always will.

Back then, I wanted to grow up to be a cowgirl, but in Manhattan, the chances were slim. I loved cowboy shows and movies and had this whole notion of moving west with Rowdy Yates and Gil Favor and Cheyenne and The Rifleman and The Lawman...never missed an episode. Hey, even then I knew a good looking man when I saw one. Ha!

So, to all you Mamas out there, pistol-packing or otherwise - cowgirls or otherwise - Have A Wonderful Mother's Day.

Wednesday Quote of the Day: A Celebration of Mothers

Since Mother's Day is fast approaching, I thought a few mother-worthy quotes would be apropos today. Along with some gorgeous mother-related works of art. This will be my daughter's first Mother's Day spent as a mother herself, so it will be an extra special occasion. Mothers Rule!

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. Rajneesh

The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. Honore de Balzac

A mother is one to whom you hurry when you are troubled. Emily Dickinson

Any mother could perform the jobs of several air traffic controllers with ease. Lisa Alther

God could not be everywhere, so He created mothers. A Jewish proverb.

Every beetle is a gazelle in the eyes of its mother. A Moorish proverb.

An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy. A Spanish proverb.

Of the three impressionist paintings shown above, the first two are by Mary Cassatt and the third is by Edmund Tarbell.

The photo of a mother cheetah and her offspring is by Chris Johns, from National Geographic. Read more about Johns and his amazing work here.