Today, 7 years after my mother died & 11 days before her birthday, a woman excitedly stopped me as I walked by.

"I used to do your mother's nails! How is she?"

Not knowing my mom was gone, she was so excited to ask about her.

We are not forgotten & we never remember alone.

For years, I've seen in my mind the last fake nails my mother ever got as they grew out on her hands in the nursing home.

To know her nail tech remembers her, is the most heartbreakingly comforting thing.

Long after we are gone, we matter. To people we cannot even imagine.

My mother was never on social media & this woman is not on my social media, or she would know mother died.

This woman recognized me 7 years later, as I was in a mask, because my mother proudly showed everyone who came through her cashier line my pictures.

Hard copy printouts.

Your mom has social media?

My mom WAS social media.

You're on your mom's social media cover pic?

My mom had a "My daughter is a lawyer" bumper sticker on her car for 20 years, STARTING FROM BEFORE I GRADUATED LAW SCHOOL, because she never doubted I would.