I have to confess - I am in love. I am in love with a lady that is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I have been blessed with someone who has never treated me with disrespect, a woman who has always given me everything I wanted - and a woman who sacrificed her own dreams and wants for my benefit - the one true lady in my life - my mother Rosemary.

From the most distant moment I can remember to the most recent - she has been my provider, my teacher, my confidant - and my friend. She has shown me that I can be anything I want to be - and she is personally responsible for the man that I am today.

1981 was a tough year for us. I lost my father and she lost her husband - but worse then that - she lost her father that year. Despite the fact that she lost the two most important men in her life in the same year - her duties as a mother never faulted - and never have at all.

I am proud to say that my mother and I have a very close relationship. We never fight, we speak every single day - and I see her whenever I can - which I sadly know is not often enough - but she is in my thoughts every day - because from 10:59am on January 24, 1972 - I have been in her thoughts every moment since.

Like everyone else, I watch The Jerry Springer Show and I see so many parents that abuse, neglect, molest - or even kill their own children. I can never understand this because growing up - I was treated like a royal baby who was next in line for the throne. Looking back on my own childhood - it was never boring, uneventful, unhappy - or not special - cause whether it was sleepovers, traveling carnivals or block parties - mom was always prepared - and always ablidging.

This year will mark the 20th Anniversary of my father's death - and the 20th Anniversary of the day my mother had to become a single parent overnight. I give her a tremendous amount of credit - because I could never be able to do that - and she did without a choice.

So thanks mom. Thanks for being my savior through my hardest times, my cheerleader through my best times, my guidance through my unsure times - and my mommy through my toughest times. If I never said it before - I love you so much and am who I am today because of your guidance, love, support and friendship for 29 years.

Thanks for being my mom. I love you.