Dooley Noted: 7/29/2015
Today is my mother’s 66th birthday. 
As a creative child, I would go out of my way for my mother on her birthday.
I would make her signs and surprise her with scavenger hunts.
I would make her crafts and celebrate the woman she was to me.
Now that my free time has become minimal, I’m lucky to even get a phone call with her.
She’s never made me feel guilty.
She’s always been nothing but supportive of my career.
It’s afforded me the ability to help out financially, a concept of which I never thought I’d have capability.
But it happened.
So last year, I took her on her first trip to Vegas.
But my stress level was at a zenith, and nothing went as we had planned.
We argued.
And it took her a while to forgive me.
Rightly so. I’m glad she did.
I wonder if she misses the girl I used to be – so disciplined with school and work, but an absolute time creator.
She was the one who taught me how to create time for people.
She managed to raise three kids and work a full time job, but still make time to do amazing things for people.
I never forgot this.
So, I became a time creator like her.
I build in time into my schedule to see and talk to friends.
I use my subway commutes to connect.
When I think of them, I let them know.
I write a daily blog so they can catch up on me and my life observations.
That way, when we are in person, we can catch up on the nitty gritty stuff that doesn’t make it to the Internet.
Mom reads it avidly.
I’m aware that I’m no perfect daughter.
I fall short.
But my mother never makes me feel like I do.
And while my efforts aren’t as exuberant as in my childhood, I do prioritize her.
So, Mamacita – I’ll see you on Friday.
It won’t be your birthday anymore.
But we will recreate time and make you feel like it is.
As always, it’s our call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
