Because Mother's Day is tomorrow and because I love former Lt. Governor Bill Halter (D. AR), I figured I would share his Mother's Day e-mail with you all:
Like you, as Sunday approaches I think about my mom.
Nancy Halter was a nurse. When I was little, my mom worked the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. hospital shift one night a week while raising my brother, my sister, and me. When we were old enough, she went back to work full time and then back to school to become a teacher of nursing.
My mom taught her profession to hundreds of nursing students, who are now caring for thousands of folks all across Arkansas. When Shanti gave birth to our daughters, Lauren and Julia, in a North Little Rock hospital, nurses working there that my mom had trained came by our room to celebrate with us.
In her 55 years with us, my mom had a remarkably impactful life -- not through some breakthrough accomplishment, but through thousands of daily actions as a care provider, a teacher, and a wonderful mother. Whether working in our church, helping at school, or raising funds for the American Cancer Society, she helped strengthen our community. Hers was a life too short but extraordinarily well lived.
Mom taught lifelong lessons through example, and she demonstrated a simple but powerful truth: Ordinary people with ordinary experiences can make an extraordinary impact.
As we honor the mothers in our lives on Sunday, let's remember the ideals and the people we are working for. Mom believed in the ideals that everyone who's willing to work hard deserves a good job, that every child deserves a great education regardless of personal circumstances, and that after a lifetime of work, everyone deserves to retire in dignity.
For those whose mothers are still with you, I hope you have the opportunity for a warm embrace. For those whose mothers are gone, I hope you have the warm embrace of fond memories.
Happy Mother's Day,
Bill
Halter is running for Governor of Arkansas and he is up against Blue Dog Mike Ross in the primary. If you would like to donate or get involved with his campaign, you can do so here:
http://www.billhalter.com/
Happy Mother's Day tomorrow!