A Memorable Mother's Day

All of the off-spring of the Leonard kids of Plainview are special in their own way. But John was extra special, because he was the first -- and for a long time, the only off-spring. He was almost three-years older than his brother, more than seven years older than his sister, and more than nine years older than his oldest cousin. He was the first to make his Mom & Dad parents -- the first grandson, the first nephew -- he was "the Dean" of the next generation and fulfilled that role so well in so many different ways.

Although I'm sure there were trips to the barber beforehand, my first memory of my then only son and I going out on just a guy's outing was when we went to buy flowers for John's Mom for Mothers' Day in 1978. JW was not quite two-years-old. It was just the two of us and John William was so excited at the prospect of buying something for his Mom. He, of course, helped pick out the flowers and you can see his excitement in the adjacent photo. Every child loves his or her mom; but anyone who ever saw JW and his Mom knew that his love for his mother was something very special indeed -- it is truly a love that is never ending.

Thanks for the sweet memories, son; thanks for the everlasting love we share.