Today is Day 24 of 40 Days until Bradleys 40th Birthday brought to all of us by my wonderful wife and the kindness of others! It is SO amazing to wake up every day and have NO IDEA where the sweet sentiments will be coming from. Today, I got 2 very nice letters from my Mom, Linda Lewis Egel Mayor and my Step Father, Bruce Mayor! I am writing this on the airplane traveling to San Diego where I will make more memories with Bruce this weekend. My Mom and Bruce are two of the most supportive people in my life. They are NEVER unavailable emotionally for me. They also are phsyically present at so many things that are of great importance to me. They come to all my cancer charity cycling rides, they donate when they can and they encourage me to continue to further the things I am passionate about. Bruces letter was more of a collage of memories and we have made so many together. The moving Vietnam war memorial which we have visited twice together. The 1st USMC Combat Helicopter Association Reunion in Orlando, (We are attending the second one together this weekend in San Diego,) and Bruce even got on a bike for the first time in 30 years and rode with me during one of my cancer charity cycling marathons. Bruce is a Marine...a hero...a former firefighter...and a genuinely good guy. He is completely good to my mother. During my moms recent ordeal with her health, Bruce was the rock that kept her going. In my absence, his presence gave me great comfort. I love Bruce and I always have felt and treated him with the love of a son. He deserves it...and I am better for having him in my life for all these years. He has cried on my shoulder about difficult memories past many times, and we have laughed together about wonderfully hilarious moments as well...the best of which involved Bruce, a lazy river and a tube that was WAY to small...He got in..getting out...that was more fun to watch! He is a very important figure in my life. Bruce had such kind words to describe me...including...Honest, Attentive, Passionate, Polite, Youthful, Bright, Inspiring, Resourceful, Trustworthy, Humanitarian, Devoted, Accountable...and many other adjectives that spelled out HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Every word meant a lot to me Bruce...Thank you! Mom...what can I say about our relationship? My mother is pure love. She is one of the most kind and understanding people I have ever met. She has dealt with major financial and health-related issues for many years and has NEVER complained. She values what is important in life. Strong relationships. Solid core values. And an unwavering support of my siblings and I. She is the very embodiment of what I think a mother should be. Caring...worried constantly...giving...but never meddling in my affairs...only being there if asked. She is an incredible role model for me in this regard. Much of my giving spirit and want to care for others I feel comes from my mother. I have been blessed with many wonderful people in my life...and she is certainly one of those people. I dont think I could ever truly describe what she has meant to my life throughout my childhood and now into my years as a spouse, father and almost 40 year old. She always says things like, I dont have much to give...but I wanted to give you something... What she does not realize is that she has given me more than I could ever hope for and never has it needed to be material or monetary things. There are too many memories to recount...but suffice it to say that I will always remain aware of how much my Mom means to me...in the past, in the present and the future. My mom wrote to me so many special things and I am going to keep those private. They were too well thought out and expressed to merely give you an excerpt. Mom, just know that your words touched me deeply and it gives me tremendous joy knowing that I make you proud every day. Mom and Daddy B...I love you BOTH!! Thanks Mom and Bruce!!! And as always...thanks Jody for doing this...every day is amazing waking up to these wonderful surprises! Cant wait for tomorrow!! I cant believe I have more than 23 days of this awesomeness left!! YEAH!!! Bradley
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 03:29:49 +0000