Dear Mom,

Thanks for always being there for me when I was acting like a dickhead (and still act like a dickhead, I'm still learning). I am the luckiest dude on the planet. Your guidance, no bullshit attitude, and love have molded me into the person I am today. Thanks for always driving us to shows which ultimately led to destroying every car you owned. Thanks for letting us use the basement (and essentially the entire house) as one big rehearsal and jam space for me and ALL my friends. Thanks for being a taxi service. Thanks for buying all those Capri Suns and fruit snacks (Ry and Chris are still sorry they ate all the ones from the 9/11 survival pack). Thanks for letting me host all those New Years Eve parties. Sorry about Ian pulling his pants down and running down the street screaming "Suck my ass!"...we still talk about that and Ry and Bj are still terrified of making you mad. Thanks for letting me play music as loud and as awful as I wanted. Thanks for taking us to Blink 182 (Bj and I still talk about it to this day) at such an early age, buying me all those instruments, letting me dye my hair orange, blue and pink...and thanks for letting me wear those blue plaid pants in 7th grade. Remember taking grandma into Hot Topic? Thanks for surprising us with The Nightmare Before Christmas that one time I think in third grade. Pete and I were so excited and watched it an estimated billion times that weekend. Thanks for always doing anything you could to surprise us or make something special no matter what. Thanks for being organized and precise with everything we did. Thanks for always caring and pulling all the parents together when we decided we were going to go on our first tour. Just the other day Ry and I were talking about it. Thanks for letting me dress up as Dick Tracy, Bill Wilkins, and Batman when we went grocery shopping. All the birthdays, gifts, countless hours you spent on something I took for granted at the time mean so much to me now. Thank you.

I know a lot was put on your plate when we were young and I want you to know how much I appreciate and love you for being as strong as you are. Thanks for being both my mom and dad when I needed you to be. I know I can always turn to you with anything and you will be there for me. It's days like today I wish I wasn't 3,000 miles away and could give you a hug (I can't wait until you come out for a visit).

I love you mom and I want you to relax and enjoy the day. Stop working so hard...maybe that's where I get it from...

Love you so much Mom!

-Matt