SAD BUT TRUE

when you were 8 years old,
your mom handed you an ice cream. You
thanked
her by dripping it all over your lap.


When you were 9 years old, she paid for
piano
lessons. You thanked her by never even
bothering
to
practice.


When you were 10 years old she drove
you all
day,
from soccer to football to one birthday
party after
another. You thanked her by jumping out
of the car
and never looking back.


When you were 11 years old, she took
you and
your
friends to the movies. You thanked her
by
asking
to
sit in a different row.


When you were 12 years old, she
warned you not
to
watch certain TV shows. You thanked her
by
waiting
until she left the house.


When you were 13, she suggested a
haircut that
was
becoming. You thanked her by telling
her
she had
no
taste.


When you were 14, she paid for a month
away at
summer camp. You thanked her by
forgetting to
write
a single letter.


When you were 15, she came home from
work,
looking for a hug. You thanked her by
having your
bedroom door locked.


When you were 16, she taught you how
to drive
her
car. You thanked her by taking it every
chance
you
could.


When you were 17, she was expecting
an
important
call. You thanked her by being on the
phone all
night.


When you were 18, she cried at your
high school
graduation. You thanked her by staying
out
partying
until dawn.


When you were 19, she paid for your
college
tuition,
drove you to campus carried your bags.
You
thanked
her by saying good-bye outside the dorm
so you
wouldn't be embarrassed in front of
your
friends.


When you were 25, she helped to pay
for your
wedding, and she cried and told you
how deeply
she
loved you. You thanked her by moving
halfway
across
the country.


When you were 50, she fell ill and
needed you to
take
care of her. You thanked her by reading
about the
burden parents become to their
children.


And then, one day, she quietly died.
And
everything
you never did came crashing down like
thunder on
YOUR HEART..