Weekly email prompts - Day 2

I chose one writing prompt to feature for this blog. Ode to mom.
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What is the greatest intangible gift given you?
I don't recall if it was a graduation card or just a birthday card, but there is one particular card my mother gave me that I had on display in my room for a while (until I packed it up, moved and am unsure of where it is now) of which I held dear to me because of the message held inside. While I'd like to find that card again to display, I don't need the tangible item because the message is in my heart.
    My mother expressed in written words that she was proud of me. I have not really done anything note-worthy in my life, no outrageous achievements, no overwhelming success and for some reason I find it hard to say "I love you" to my family even though I truly do and appreciate all the support and love they've given to me. Despite all that, my mother is still proud of me. This means a lot to me because I try to be a good person and I try not to be a horrible daughter.
    At one point in our relationship, my mother had told me that she thought she did a bad job being a mother. My response was to feel that I'd let her down. I don't know what changed her mind or what made her feel so strongly to say that in the first place, but reading that card a few years later made me cry happy tears. I hope I can continue to make her proud. I know it is because of her that I am the nice, strong, generous person I am today. She set examples for me, and while she may not think I took notice, I did and do my best to follow them.
    Now if only I wrote this in time for Mother's Day.

Listening to: The bubles in my soda pop

So my mother's birthday is Oct. 20 and I completely forgot to call and tell her. On Oct. 29 (my birthday) my grandmother called and she brought up that my mother had surgery on a malignant tumor in her neck. So I felt horrible on two counts now (even though it's been pointed out that it's not entirely my fault that I didn't know she was having surgery since she didn't tell me, but the other side is that I hardly call to talk to her). My mother has been going to school full time with a full time job since I moved out of her house. And recently she told me that she has a second job (part time) at the ER. Working in the ER is a high-stress job. My mother is always going going going. She really needs to slow down. :(

For my birthday:
Friday - a few friends met me at the Brandin' Iron (even though I couldn't get there until 10:45pm and we stayed for about 2hrs)
Saturday - saw the bands Janelle Monae and Of Montreal
Sunday - sat at home all day until Stuart got off work, went to Red Robin for my free birthday burger
Monday - Lunch with my dad at Red Lobster

So as noted above; Stuart has a job. He's delivering pizza for Dominoes. Lets see how this goes.