02/26/2026
Entering the third month since my mother’s passing has been quite the experience.
I find myself reflecting, crying, leading, fathering, and sitting with my therapist — sometimes all in the same day. This journey is not pristine, and I do not pretend for it to be. It is real. It is layered. It is human.
What I feel most, even now, is the impact of my mother’s love. In many ways, I feel it more deeply than ever.
Today we celebrate her birthday — now that she is an ancestor. Samantha shared a video of the last time we sang “Happy Birthday” to her while she was still with us. I had brought her a cake from the vegan restaurant I love (the same one my wife and kids strongly dislike). Truth be told, my mother didn’t enjoy the cake much either. But she absolutely enjoyed our presence. And that’s what mattered.
The memories are many. Today they make me both grateful and sad.
But sadness is not something to frown upon. It is a gift. It is evidence of love. It is the heart honoring what mattered.
So today I am embracing the sadness the same way I embrace joy — fully and without apology.
Let’s love the people who are still here and honor the impact of our ancestors, whose love continues to shape us long after they transition.
With gratitude for the love that formed us all.
Happy birthday, mom. ❤️