Dedicated to my dear mother, who left us June 29, 2012.

You laid the foundation for the woman I've become, taught me the basics of writing, instilled a deep-seated sense of value, especially of family, and inspired a love of reading--even though I struggled initially, you never gave up; above all, you loved me with steadfast loyalty.

When Mom first left and Dad told me, "You're the woman of the house now," I panicked. Did that mean I needed to fill her shoes and carry on the same way? The last eleven years, although filled with grief and learning to cope and move forward, I now understand the meaning of his seven words. I'll never be my mother, and that's okay. I'm me, and she taught me to stay true to myself. Yes, we have our differences, but we're also bound together forever in our similarities. I am my mother's daughter, and I still find it hilarious that I'm retracing her footsteps.

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