Todd’s Take: Always Dance With Your Mom, Even If It’s Not Mother’s Day

What with Mother's Day coming up this weekend, I thought I'd take a moment to publicly wish my mother, Ricki Lyons, a happy day and tell her that I love her.

I probably need to have a spin on the dance floor with her again.

A couple of summer's ago, I had the chance to help my aunt and uncle celebrate their retirement at the posh Sahalee Country Club in Redmond.  It was attended by about 125 family members, neighbors and co-workers and turned into a de facto family reunion for me.

Both of my siblings and their spouses were there with my wife and I, as well as my mother and her sister and brother -- my uncle Ron and aunt Robyn. I also reconnected with many of their friends, some of whom they've known since childhood, who have known me my entire life. It was kind of surreal in some ways, seeing all these people in one room together.

We were treated to wonderful hors d'oeuvres, a hosted bar and a great buffet. The retirees were toasted and then roasted by a number of people on the microphone and then the dance floor was opened.

The final song of the evening was by Canadian country music songstress Anne Murray and her tune "Could I Have This Dance (For the Rest of My Life)."  This was the song my mom picked out for me and her to dance to at my wedding reception several years ago, so I knew it was special to her. It then became special to me.

I asked her to dance. She obliged.

If given the chance, always dance with your mom.