Ron Darling, SNY.tv
Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Luciana Mikina Aikala Darling.
My childhood was unique in many ways and my mom played an integral part in my athletic development. She was an amazing athlete and her favorite sports were volleyball and softball. Raised in Hawaii before Title IX, my mom really started playing organized sports when the family moved to Massachusetts. She was a cornerstone third baseman with a championship softball team where she always seemed to go 4-for-4 and had a shotgun for an arm. In fact for most of my childhood you could always have a "proper catch" and throw as hard as you wanted.
I know it was tough for her moving from Hawaii to New England and taking care of four boys but she did it with aplomb. I am now self-quarantined with her in Florida and because of some health issues she is in harm's way during this pandemic. The silver lining is that many people my age never get to know their parents as they get older but this time has been priceless.
Some day in the distant future when my mom is not here, I will know that this time in Florida was a godsend. It was the time I got to tell her, thank you for everything.
Happy Mother's Day to all.
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