The last time I saw her, gravel was pelting my bare legs as she sped away from me in the K-Mart parking lot in Grayling.

Today is my mom's 53rd birthday. I haven't spoken to my mother since June when she and I drove to Florida to be with my brother after Susan's death. That was absolutely the most horrible road trip I have ever taken in my entire life. Her car had no air conditioning, none what so ever. I literally thought I was dying at a couple of points. I become absolutely positively miserable when it is too hot. My face turns red, I get sick to my stomach, my eyes become blood shot, and I literally want to die.

Needless to say, my mother and I did not get along at all during this trip. In fact, she sent me a nice little letter with profanity written all over the outside of the envelope for all to see. I will never understand how I could come from someone like her.

I guess it just proves that anything is possible.