Life was different back in the day. Community was vital. Childhood antics, teenage exploits, and the challenges of young adulthood revealed I didn't know what I thought I knew. Through all of this, the greatest influence of my life was my mom. She helped me process the good and the bad. Instead of being one-dimensional live, love, and laugh with the great intention and anticipation of more. As she is no longer with me her words and laughter linger on, and I am emancipated. I learned that the greatest gift of life was and truly is love; unpretentious, nurtured, and existing to be shared with others.