My daughter leaves me little yellow sticky notes everywhere. Her name, written in crooked letters, with carefully drawn hearts and girls with smiling faces. I find them on the mirror, in my books, on my pillow. She is imprinting herself on my life, deliberate and obvious, and wonderfully needy. She wants my love, my attention to her daily absence. She wants to be remembered when she isn't here, and that strikes a chord with me. She is me in so many ways.

Doesn't she know I don't need a reminder? She is always there in my mind and heart; she is a part of my soul. I am surprised that she doesn't know this fundamental truth, that mothers always love their daughters. How can she not know that? It's as sure as the sunrise.

So I gather up these little notes, a harvest of need and sweetness. They are my reminders, reminders to use every moment I can to tell her I love her, that she's special, that she will always, ALWAYS have a place in my heart. She can't go far enough to get away from Mama's love. Hear that, baby?

Your trail has been blazed with little yellow love notes, and I'll never lose your path.