becoming her

dear mom,

do you remember the first time you showed me the picture of you in the orange pioneer dress? that was the first time i consciously realized, and reveled in the fact, that i look just like you. i love that i look like you, mom.

i see you every morning, every evening, and multiple times in between while i play with wallace and his reflection in the mirror.

i see you when i read stories all day.

i see you when i sing to my heart's content during church.

i see you every time i am moved by the beauty of classical music.

i see you when wallace and i have dance parties in the middle of the day.

i see you when i tell stories well ("you are going to BOMB my house?!")

i see you when i champion nursing and mother's knowledge.

you are right next to me when i order bean burritos (with no red sauce, green sauce only).

you whisper in my ear how to calm worried babies and love them into laughter.

i see you in the mountains. they sing your name to me when the sunrise breaks through.

i see you in my desire to continually self educate.

i see you every time i cook well (brissons know how to COOK!),

every time someone asks me for a recipe,

every time i tell about larry lizard, the littlest angel, and wallace purling.

because of you, i can dub myself, "flamingo feather retriever",

i know the color of giraffes tongues,

i know plants can get sunburnt,

that spiders are not scary (except when they are),

and that dogs are the best alarm systems.

you taught me to love everything, to live every minute, and serve tirelessly.

thank you for teaching me, my entire life, that i am worth investing in.

i am lucky to have been chosen to be your daughter.

Love,

Alisha