"Memories of Momma" — A 71 Day Photo Tribute (Day 61)

MEMORIES of MOMMA*:

It was incredible watching Mom get outside of her comfort zone and join me in little adventures in Alaska. One of our favorite trips together was a day cruise in July 2014 to the Tracy Arm Fjord, a few hours south of Juneau.

We knew it'd be chilly that day, so I loaned Mom one of my old sweatshirts from the Salty Dawg Saloon in Homer. A Salty Dawg sweatshirt is part of the quintessential Alaskan outfit, and you're bound to spot someone wearing one when you're out and about running errands or traveling through airports in Alaska. To me, it's kind of the equivalent of stilettos in Manhattan or cowboy boots in Texas.

I love how "Alaskan" Momma looks in this photo. She's so at ease and comfortable in her surroundings, even right alongside this gigantic blue iceberg. The tiny black dot at the top of the glacier is actually an eagle perched way up high. Mom was really excited whenever she saw eagles. No matter how far away she was, she'd always whip out her iPhone and take a picture.

Now she's soaring with the eagles and protecting me from above.

*It's Day 61 of my 71 day photo series in honor of my dear sweet Momma who passed away on 03.21.2016 after a harrowing 71 day health battle. Those 71 days do not define her. Oh no. What defines her — and me — are the incredible 66 years that she lived her life. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of the beautiful moments and memories of her life.

"Memories of Momma" — A 71 Day Photo Tribute (Day 60)

MEMORIES of MOMMA*:

In 2009 when I first told my Mom I was moving to Alaska, she teared up immediately. The tears were quickly followed with "Are you crazy?" It was a rhetorical question.

My Mom visited Alaska for the first time in the summer of 2012. I had just gone through a divorce, and I needed my Momma. We spent two weeks together in my tiny 498 square foot condo, and we started rekindling our relationship, which had really suffered during my marriage.

In 2014, Mom visited Juneau for 4 weeks, and that's when the real mother-daughter bonding started. We were having such a good time that I called the airline company and changed her ticket. She was with me a total of 6 weeks that summer.

2015 was her last visit to Alaska, and we had the time of our lives. No exaggeration, it was the best visit ever. She stayed with me, in my little one bedroom home, for two solid months. This is when we truly, deeply, emphatically became best friends.

Mom absolutely adored her trips to Alaska, and I loved having her here. Afterall, it's what brought us together again.

*It's Day 60 of my 71 day photo series in honor of my dear sweet Momma who passed away on 03.21.2016 after a harrowing 71 day health battle. Those 71 days do not define her. Oh no. What defines her — and me — are the incredible 66 years that she lived her life. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of the beautiful moments and memories of her life.

"Memories of Momma" — A 71 Day Photo Tribute (Day 59)

MEMORIES of MOMMA*:

One of Momma's favorite things was big hanging baskets of plants and flowers. When I was growing up, she'd save her money so that each summer she could buy giant Boston ferns for our front and back porches. She had an excellent green thumb and kept those bright green ferns flourishing all summer.

One of many things she loved about Alaska were all the large hanging baskets of flowers that decorated homes and storefronts in Juneau and Anchorage. This picture was taken when we traveled to Anchorage during one of her summer visits to Alaska. We could hardly get down the street without her stopping to oooh and aaah at most every flower basket. She was so charmed by their bright colors and how large the plants would grow under the Midnight Sun.

 *It's Day 59 of my 71 day photo series in honor of my dear sweet Momma who passed away on 03.21.2016 after a harrowing 71 day health battle. Those 71 days do not define her. Oh no. What defines her — and me — are the incredible 66 years that she lived her life. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of the beautiful moments and memories of her life.

"Memories of Momma" — A 71 Day Photo Tribute (Day 58)

MEMORIES of MOMMA*:

Mom had an affinity for Doberman Pinschers, and it was the main breed of dog we owned when I was growing up. The dog I most remember was our black and tan Doberman named Precious. Momma would tell me stories about how Precious would guard my bedroom door when I was an infant.

One year for Christmas, Mom gifted Dad with a life-sized Doberman dog statue, with the intent for Dad to put it in his barber shop as decoration. It looked like the real thing — so much so that when Dad opened the box that Christmas morning, I burst into tears and started crying out, "Momma, you killed Precious!" They quickly reassured me that Precious was alive and well in the backyard and that this was just a statute, not our stuffed family pet after a visit to the taxidermist. It was no doubt a hilarious story for years to come.

*It's Day 58 of my 71 day photo series in honor of my dear sweet Momma who passed away on 03.21.2016 after a harrowing 71 day health battle. Those 71 days do not define her. Oh no. What defines her — and me — are the incredible 66 years that she lived her life. I hope you enjoy these snapshots of the beautiful moments and memories of her life.