On October 15, 2004, I sent a letter to my mom shortly after she had come to visit me in Los Angeles.

I wrote:

Mom,

I just wanted to write you to say that I really had a good time while you were here visiting. It was so much fun to get to show you my life! I had a great time at Disney & Universal and in Santa Monica and even just grocery shopping.

You are an excellent mother, and you are a good friend.

I know a lot of people who wouldn’t consider their mom a “friend”, but I do. I love you very, very much.

Love,
Dg

I found this letter in a box of her things in early March of 2013.