During her lifetime, Mom rarely took off her Superwoman cape. Proudly independent, Mom reveled in her ability to take care of everyone and handle everything. Even in her later years, she was striving to help her family and doing everything to savor life. In 2000, while suffering from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Mom was helping me hoist boxes in 90-degree temperatures during my big move to another city. Later that year, she single-handedly organized a surprise 75th birthday...