I’ve never considered myself photogenic, so I don’t have many pictures of myself that I care to dwell on. The few that I do like were taken by Southern Living photographers or my cousin Richard. (Our friend Blake Sims, who worked with me at the magazine, gifted Dave and me with our wedding pictures.)
Though I usually don't like images of myself, I have many pictures of Mama and me, together, that I love. She’s a natural beauty who never takes a bad picture, even though she wears very little makeup and is “not good with hair.” (It’s a deficiency the two of us share; we heavily depend on our hair stylists because the cut has to save us from ourselves.)
The pictures I love best show the two of us enjoying each other’s company—laughing, hugging, or sharing a knowing look (that silent mother-daughter communication where a raised eyebrow speaks volumes).
On this Mother’s Day, I’m thankful to have been raised by an Alabama country girl who can make a coconut cake from scratch, set a pretty table, swim like a fish, and handle a shotgun. Her faith in God and love for other people are daily lessons in how to live my life.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mama! Today, for the first time in a long time, I’ll see you in church.
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