It's the most wonderful Mom of the year...

Oh! It's that time of year again - the excitement, the wonder, the stress! Yep, that's right...I said it, the stress. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the holidays - but it sure does come with a whopper-size helping of anxiety and stress (2 things that I have doctor's orders to avoid). So, what's a girl to do when that perfect present/holiday/dinner is just not happening? I bet you think I'm going to say walk - but, no, I call Mom.

Sigh. My Mom. Truly the reason behind this whole project. Behind the 2,015 miles in 2015 for Epilepsy Awareness. No, she doesn't have Epilepsy - but she is my biggest cheerleader and she IS the biggest walker I know. And, she's the reason I started walking.

You see, about 5 years ago my Mom surprised all of us when she had to undergo open-heart surgery. This vibrant woman - my hero - couldn't possibly need this. But, it was going to happen nonetheless. And, watching her go through it was terrifying for me. In a way, I realized it was probably how it was for my Mom watching me struggle at times with my Epilepsy - such a role reversal. At that moment, I realized I was completely uninterested in a life without my Mom so I was going to do anything to make sure she recovered completely. And the doctor's prescription was to walk - and walk a lot.

The first day was just the hospital room, then the hallway, then at home it was half a block, then around the block and so on. Sometimes her "spicy" attitude came out when she wasn't feeling like it - but I loved pushing her. And secretly, I know she loved it too.

Mom and I celebrating recovery in the most magical place on Earth

My Mom has never looked back on that surgery. She herself has easily walked as many miles as I have this year - since she is often my walking partner in crime. And her purpose now is to selflessly get me to my goal - how the tables have turned. :)

AND - I am almost there. 1,964 miles and counting. That leaves me with 51 miles to knock out before we turn over to 2016. Ma, are you with me?