My Nonnee

Nonnee is my MIL, and raised Kip to be a fine husband and father.

No one is more generous of heart and spirit. She is of the belief that you can't love your children too much, anymore than you could extinguish the sun by pouring gasoline on it.

She'll work tirelessly to cook the family one of her famous breakfasts, and if the pancake batter runs out, promptly declare she didn't particularly care for pancakes that morning anyway.

Nonnee has taught me so many things since I joined her family ten years ago. Among them:

1. You won't break a baby if you actually wash its face.

2. A good haircut is worth the money. Who cares if you saved a few bucks if your highlights turn green the day after.

3. Elbows off the table. Really. Not negotiable.

4. Start each day with a piece of bacon, end each day with a cosmo. Cocktail hour is a way of life. Embrace it.

5. True ladies who might be required to snort OJ through their nose don't complain about it.

6. Forget red hats and purple dresses; wear aqua and you'll look fabulous. All good jewelry must jingle. If you've spent most of your life laughing, your wrinkles will be beautiful.

7. When you had a good role model, being the matriarch is easy. Or at least you can make it look that way. If at first you don't succeed, do it the way your mother told you to.

8. Civility makes the world a nicer place. Practice simple kindness.

9. Love your children, and they will come back home often. Of course, it doesn't hurt to build that home by a beach.

10. Tell your grandchildren you are magic and they will believe it: their parents have always known it to be true.

Words never come easily when I try to write something for Nonnee--I choke each time there is an opportunity to talk about her goodness. She has raised me up in ways she'll never know, and I am proud to be her DIL. I love you Nonnee. Happy Mother's Day to one of the all time best in the biz!