Three days ago, I celebrated my 36th birthday in my favorite place in the world. A month ago, I documented a team of international scientists conducting research in Germany. Tonight, I will give a presentation for the Morehead Planetarium Science Center about my work in the deep ocean. A few weeks from now, I will fly across the country to spend time with friends and colleagues in Oregon and California. A few months from now, I will go to sea with a team of volcanologists in the North Pacific Ocean.

By just about every measure, I have a full and vibrant life. The people I engage with and the activities I pursue regularly challenge my body, stimulate my mind, and nourish my soul. 

But there is one fundamental thing missing – my dear mother, who loved me beyond measure, is gone.