Foundational Fridays -- Mother Memories

This past Wednesday met with some unexpected events while I was traveling home after executing an on-site strategy session with a client much of Tuesday. I left Pittsburgh and arrived in Charlotte with serene smoothness. A work colleague, who was also supporting this client on-site, was on that same flight into Charlotte. It gave us an opportunity to compare notes about the prior day's proceedings, which we agreed met or exceeded expectations. Charlotte is home for her, so we chatted for a few minutes following the flight, said our salutations and she headed home.

Given the time of day and my having a couple hours before catching my connection home, she recommended I try a specific restaurant in the Charlotte airport for dinner. Well, more a "linner" (late lunch/early dinner) as it was only around 4pm. Regardless, I was hungry not having eaten anything since about 8am, so I headed in. Had a tasty treat of smoked meats and sides. Caught up on messages and news feeds, just recharging and relaxing prior to catching my very short hop home a little after 6pm.

You already know where this is heading. May, in Charlotte? Yep, storms. One hour, then two hours, then three hours of delays. Eventually, it ended with canceled flights for the evening a bit after 10pm, rebooked for a 645am departure. Had I taken the hotel voucher and gone through that whole process, maybe I would get a couple hours of sleep. Nope, that juice wasn't worth the squeeze. I stayed in the airport, as did most of the passengers on the same cancelled full flight home, I assume for much the same reason or rationale.

I walked the airport for a while after having a snack and an adult beverage thinking about how full my Thursday schedule was and, if the new flight plan held, I would get to my home office just in time for my first morning meeting (I got home, fired up the laptop, and was on that video call just five minutes later). Fortunately, the first two meetings were internal, so I didn't feel too awkward that I hadn't shaved, and I wasn't as alert and awake as I normally am. Following, I had an hour break to get right and ready for the day's client-facing meetings.

Searching for a place to sit, I finally found a porch rocker in which I would attempt some sleep. If you've never been to the Charlotte airport, they have a few dozen all wood porch rockers arrayed around the terminal. I like that. But, not great for napping. While sitting in the rocker, I was also thinking about how on Friday, my family and I were taking my wife to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA for Mother's Day. She's wanted to go for years, and the timing never quite worked out. She and I were last there a couple decades ago when we were dating. Long overdue to return!

That, of course, got me to thinking about my own mom. I miss her. I have missed her for most of my life. She died when I was just five years old. Rocking in that chair, and not being able to catch any ZZZsss, I purposefully pondered how different would my life have been if she wasn't lost when I was so young? Would she be proud of the man I became? Would she love my wife and children as I do? Would I have followed a different professional or personal path? There is more I was considering and contemplating as one only does at 1, then 2, then 3 in the morning in an airport with which I won't bore you.

Sharing all this predicate to present this ... remember that Sunday is Mother's Day. She will always love you, even if it was for such a short time. The mother of your children, your mother-in-law, and so many other mothers have impacted, influenced, and injected much into our lives. Take a few minutes or moments to recall, remember, and reflect on that. Then, thank them. The day isn't about flowers or other gifts; it is about a simple sharing of gratitude for the goodness moms have given to us all.