Fall Equinox

Cheers to the Autumnal Equinox! I’ll give you a few seconds to let that sink in… How many of you, even for just a split second, thought I made a typo? The calendar and seasons are one of the hardest things for me to adjust to. Today marks the first day of fall here. The days will begin to shorten, and the temperatures will slowly drop (though nothing like the Northeast).

Today, March 20, is also Mom B’s birthday. Mom B is my mother’s sister, but she was more than an aunt to me—she was another mom. We shared a special connection that no one else can claim. While her birthday is today, mine is just two days later, on March 22. Growing up, we celebrated together, usually by going out to dinner or cooking a big meal at home. Those are some of my favorite childhood memories.

As time went on and I moved away to college, we traded dinners for phone calls. I never missed calling her on her birthday, and I knew that just two days later I would hear her voice again when she called me. For most of my life, I knew March 20 as the first day of spring—and as a day I would get to spend some time talking with her.

Although many years have passed since Mom B left us, I still remember this day. I spend it thinking of her and the important role she played in my life. She was always willing to do whatever she could to help others. The foundation of her relationships was love—freely given and without limits. She somehow knew exactly how to love a boy who was not like other boys and make him feel special.

The seasons may be reversed here, but some things never change—March 20 will always be a day that belongs to her.

Happy Birthday, Mom B. I love you.