Today marks 9 years since my beautiful mother passed away and it all hurts just as much as it did on day 1. My Mom was no ordinary woman. She had the kind of energy that would light up a room wherever she went. She was incredibly kind, caring, creative and funny. Her smile was contagious and she always knew exactly what to say to brighten someone's day. She was always the best-dressed person on any occasion. For no reason at all she would leave the house dressed to the nines. But make no mistake, she was powerful. She would never let anyone disrespect her or take advantage of her in any way. She taught me to "never let anyone walk all over you". She did everything she could to be the best Mom possible and I will always be grateful for her. If your Mom is alive today, please do me a favor, pick up the phone and call her. Tell her you love her and that you're lucky to have her. Make a date with her, take her out to her favorite restaurant. While you're there, take photos and videos together. One day you'll cherish those more than you can imagine. For anyone who knows someone who is battling addiction, it's a real disease with real consequences. Those who are fighting it are going through more struggles than you know. They need all the support they can get. They need to get clean and they can't do it alone. If you've read this so far, know that I love you and appreciate you. Rest Easy Mom. You were the brightest light to ever shine. Love, Cooper