My Greatest Blessing in 2025

Fam,  I’ve been avoiding writing an end of year recap.

Not because I haven’t achieved a lot in 2025.

My podcuseries, Works~N~Progress? A reaffirming blessing. 

Projects – adapted and original – locked in and loading. 

And big and small  career milestones too many to mention.

But I haven’t been compelled to recap any of it, because… Exhaustion. 

Instead, I’ve been resting. 

Today, I started my New Year’s cleaning like my Momma taught me. And when I cleared out my writing desk, I found a folder of past birthday cards.

(For younguns reading this, birthday cards are tangible  symbols of love and connection that folks mail to you to let you know you’re special to them.)

Before I knew it, I stopped cleaning and started reading them. And 9 cards from one soul kept rising to the top — Birthday cards from my momma.

They were funny, heartfelt. And there was even a repeat one – declaring her pride and “eternal love” for me – because she loved the message and design so much. 

See, the cards, Fam, are simply an extension of how my mom has always gone above and beyond to make my birthdays special. 

From throwing me epic pajama parties as a girl to mailing me cards every year as a woman, she has never forgotten my birthday. 

And I used to take that for granted, but now…

Momma has dementia and it’s called the long goodbye for reason. 

Simple things she’s done a million times, she’s forgotten how to do. Stories she’s told me, I’m now retelling her. And people, places, events and dates are slipping away from her. 

My sister and I know the day may come when Momma doesn’t remember us. And I’ve been trying to brace myself for it. 

So, this past October when I was home, I wasn’t planning to remind her it was birthday, because I  didn’t want her to feel bad for forgetting. 

But then, Momma surprised me. Not only did she tell me it was birthday, she apologized she hadn’t gotten me a card, and she baked me a cake!

Fam, I can’t even tell you how much that meant to me that Momma remembered my birthday. 

Will she remember next year? 

I don’t know. I’m  just grateful that as Momma’s memories slip away, I’m still in the forefront of her mind.

And that was my greatest blessing in 2025.