56 Comments

  1. Molly, your mom is beautiful and she sounds like so much fun – how lovely that you can write about her and keep those memories alive! And what a great Thanksgiving week charity project for veterans, so inspiring!

  2. What an amazing story. Even though it’s not a sad post, I’m a flipping mess in tears! I always decide to read your blog when I’m at work with a million people around me! lol Even though I’ve never met you or your mom, I can tell you both are amazing and inspiring women 🙂

  3. What a great story about your mom. As you get older, you’re going to be so happy you write about her on your blog because the memories will always be there in writing. On another note, that’s an awesome project your dad is a part of! It’s a wonderful idea – we need to take care of our veterans. And I had no idea he lived in Florida – I actually have family in Ocala myself. 🙂

  4. No wonder you turned out so good – what a great role model 🙂

    I’ll whip up some blankets and get them down there – This may sound dumb and superficial in the face of their current needs list, but do you think some of those school aged girls would want/like a few scarves? I mean, everyone deserves something pretty, right?

    1. thank you so much, stephanie! 🙂

      and oh my goodness. YES! that would be AMAZING!!!!! that doesn’t sound superficial AT ALL. seriously. amazing. let me know if you have questions or need help with anything!!!!

  5. This post definitely brought tears to my eyes. Your Mom sounds like she was an amazing person and I love that you saw NSYNC together! I can tell you get your fun personality from her. Project SOS sounds truly amazing!

    xo,
    Angela

  6. Molly, you totally made me cry with your beautiful post today. In the first picture, I didn’t even have to read your first few lines to know that that was your mother. She certainly is beautiful, and I can tell you have a streak of her fun, and spunky self right down through you. I am sorry about your loss, but I think this is a beautiful way to memorialize her life and sacrifice. I will definitely be looking into how I can help out !
    xx
    Here&Now

  7. What a great illustration of your mom to share and a beautiful way to honor her! She sounds like a real inspiration for sure and I can see where you get your spunk! I will also be praying for the homeless vets. Thanks for introducing SOS

  8. You look so much like your mom, she was a beautiful lady and sounds like a load of fun! Thank you so much for sharing this project! I live in gainesville, just north of Ocala, and I’ve never heard of those vets living in the forest! I will definitely be sending some stuff to your dad!

  9. Your mother was beautiful, and I love how her spirit is so obvious through photos and the stories you tell. Especially the N*SYNC one… can’t lie, that’s pretty awesome. 🙂

    PS – that picture of the soldier with the child in his arms made me bawl. I think I’m still a hormonal mess. LOL.

  10. Oh Molly. This was a great post about mama dukes! I can’t believe it’s been ten years already! It honestly feels like it was just yesterday that we were sitting in one of the upstairs computer labs at HHS for government when we got the news. It was a sad day for all of us as we, your friends, knew what an amazing woman she was and the health struggles she had been through! She may no longer be here but she continues to live through you and your memories- like this awesome NYSYNC memory! I will try my best -since im still at home with a horrible sprained ankle- to get some items together and have my husband send them off!!!!

  11. What a sweet and wonderful tribute to your mom! She sounds like she was quite amazing. I’m pretty sure my mom didn’t/doesn’t know who NSYNC is. You are truly a wonderful person Molly, I just can’t say it enough. Your mom would be SO proud of you.

    xo, Yi-chia
    Always Maylee

  12. I am so sorry for the loss of your mom, Molly. Your blog post today was a beautiful tribute to her. Picturing her in her rockstar garb made me smile 🙂

    1. oh my goodness that would be amazing!! it’s going to be an ongoing project! we’re trying to collect a lot in the month of november to help them prepare for the winter months – but it’s going to be ongoing! let me know what questions you have or what you need from me!! thank you thank you thank you!

  13. Your mom was an amazing woman! I love that you talk about her and highlight all that you gleaned from her before her death and even since her death… you are awesome Molly!

  14. I was a Backstreet Boys fan myself…but we will save that fight for another day. Your mom sounds like such an amazing lady. And your mention of Ocala Forest sent me down the rabbit hole of Wikipedia and Google and I am now learning so much about the plight of the homeless in the forest. NJ has a Tent City in Lakewood and it’s actually pretty impressive. They have some electricity and washers and dryers and have even been able to get school buses to stop nearby to pick up the kids.
    Tara
    Penniless Socialite
    l

    1. hahaha ohhh BSB fans. you guys were a crew. 🙂 🙂 jk! i liked BSB, too – just not as much as NSYNC. 🙂 she really was an amazing lady!!

      and yeah, i had no idea about the plight of the homeless in the forest down there but after talking with my dad and doing some research, it’s really amazing how many homeless veterans are living there. it’s crazy!

      thank you SO much, tara!

      and just FYI: I had the wrong address on there earlier – if you like, you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

    1. oh my goodness thank you so much, Alyssa!! BTW: I had the wrong address on there earlier – you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

    1. thank you SO much, crystal!! hahaha ohhh BSB 🙂
      BTW: I had the wrong address on there earlier – you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

  15. Molly – what a great story (though are you saying that you are not STILL an NSYNC fan girl?? i am,)

    either way, my family is from Ocala and has worked with the veterns groups in the area for years, I’ll be putting together a bag to send down this weekend. Thanks for sharing the info.

    1. hahahaa oh i am totally still an NSYNC fan girl 🙂 thank you so much, leslie!!

      and BTW: I had the wrong address on there earlier – you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

    1. thank you so much for your support, rebecca!! 🙂 she was amazing!!
      and just FYI: I had the wrong address on there earlier – if you like, you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

  16. Thank you for sharing such an amazing memory of your mom. It made me smile (and tear a bit) and I’m thankful for the wonderful memories you have of her and that you are willing to share them. I also think that it is amazing what your father is doing. I will do what I can.

    Have a wonderful day.

    1. you are amazing! thank you so much, shawn!
      and just FYI: I had the wrong address on there earlier – if you like, you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

      1. Awesomeness. I am pulling together donations as we type and we will get them. I posted on my facebook with a link to your page. Really hoping that is okay? Probably should have asked first, but you rang the bell and I jumped 🙂

  17. Molly, thank you so much for sharing this. My mom passed away 14 years ago yesterday, and I have been really down about it this entire week. Thank you for being so genuine to share this story. I really enjoy reading your blog. Keep up the great work!

    1. oh wow, amberly. thank you for sharing! i’m so sorry about your mom – but i know exactly how i feel. really. thank you!
      and just FYI: I had the wrong address on there earlier – if you like, you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

  18. That is just the sweetest story about your mother. I love that you’ve done a post like this, to tie your lovely mother and her courage into a post about our vets. (I’m really impressed that she was a Vietnam vet, wow.) Most of my family has served at some point, along with my husband and a large majority of our friends are vets or still in the military. Vets need all of the help they can get, but it seems like the homeless vets really get overlooked. This is a pretty amazing program, thanks for putting it out there for everyone and for covering more serious topics on your blog. (One of the reason I like your blog so much is because of the substance you give it, it’s not just ooh, pretty clothes, la de da and such.)

    1. thank you so much, katie! your encouragement always means so much! that’s amazing you come from a family of servants!! you must be so proud. 🙂

      and just FYI: I had the wrong address on there earlier – if you like, you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

  19. Wow, what an amazing lady. You must be so proud. I admire your attitude and strength- she must have been an incredible mom to raise you.

    P.S. I secretly loved NSYNC, too.

    1. i am! she really was an amazing woman! so glad you were an NSYNC fan, too 🙂 🙂

      and just FYI: I had the wrong address on there earlier – if you like, you can send donations to:
      Project SOS – Support Our Soldiers
      c/o Tom Buckley
      2932 Manor Downs
      The Villages, Florida 32162

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