Dearest Mama,

For 23 and a half years you have been the only person I would say I can genuinely depend on. You are the best parent a girl could ask for; you are my confidante, my cheerleader, my champion, my role model, and even though you may not agree, my best friend. You are the first person I tell things to, good or bad (if not I don't tell anyone), and I can't imagine a day without your words of wisdom, your pragmatic approach to life's problems and your hilarious anecdotes about day to day life.

I was probably no picnic growing up; I'm probably still not but despite my many flaws you love me just as I am but always help me to aspire to be better. You taught me what it means to be charitable and kind even when we didn't have much, you taught me how to cook, care for myself, and above all to never let anyone tell me who I am. You taught me not only how to respect others but how to have self respect as well.

Your approach to life is exactly what I needed to become the confident, intelligent, tenacious young woman I am today and no amount of words, cards, or gifts could ever repay you for every gift you've given me; life, unconditional love and the patience to let me learn from my mistakes while also being that soft and loving place through it all.

Thank you for showing me tough love and never allowing me to feel sorry for myself. Thank you for making me chicken soup when I was sick. Thank you for those "mental health" days where we'd go to Disneyland in elementary, middle and high school. Thank you for talking sense into me when I don't have any. Thank you for holding me as I cried over stupid boys. Hell, thank you for encouraging me not to focus on stupid boys. Thank you for valuing my opinions on things and allowing me to form my own. Thank you for teaching me to value experiences and relationships over things. Thank you for roasting chicken for dinner on Sundays and for making Christmas special each year because you know it's my favorite holiday even when I'm in my 20s. Thank you for taking me around the world. Thank you for supporting me through getting my degree. Thank you for teaching me to be brave but never reckless. Thank you for picking me up at 2:00 a.m. when I go out with friends. And above all thank you for being the only person in my life who is consistently honest with me and would give the world to make me happy.

As I've said before, I was no picnic growing up -- but somehow you've managed to put up with my hours long rants (or as you call them monologues) about anything from politics to things I think are tacky, my phone calls thinking I'm dying after reading WebMD, not to mention the fact that when I'm home I devour everything in the fridge in record time. Even though I'm stubborn, I'm dramatic, I talk too much and I'm kind of a slob, you still think the world of me and I think the world of you too.

I can only hope that one day I'm even one tenth of the mother you are to me, if that happens I will be one happy person! I hope that when you read this letter you see that I mean every word and that I'm appreciative of everything you've done and continue to do for me, even when I'm acting like a brat.

I love you more than anything!

Always your "toots,"

Gabi