Today is my mother's birthday. To celebrate I thought I would publicly declare how much I love her despite our many differences and thank her for continuing to love me despite the things I do here, things like what I'm about to do. The following is a transcript of a voice mail she left me the day after she read what I had written about our heated debate over global warming:

Heather...
this is your mother...
the one who doesn't believe in global warming, that one...
you're a shithead...
call me back.

I haven't deleted it yet, don't think I ever will, and I'm thinking I'll keep it handy and play it back for all those people who write and say my, my, your poor family, I can't believe they still speak to you after what you have put them through. Because my, my, don't you know, my mother taught me everything I know.

And I couldn't be more proud that she is the person in this world whom I resemble most. I love you, Mom.