Mom

Cristal Fortino, of Manchester, earned her degree in sociology from McDaniel College, and took part in commencement ceremonies on May 19. Fortino, who was a stay-at-home mom to her two children for 15 years, enrolled at McDaniel College after her husband lost his job due to downsizing. It was around her family's dinner table that the decision was made for her to return to school, and a scholarship from McDaniel allowed her to achieve that goal. Fortino technically graduated in December, but took part in the May commencement.

Happy  Mother's Day  dear readers, If you are a mom or a grandmother, you hopefully will celebrate Sunday surrounded by loved ones. Mother's Day  is the single most popular day to dine out - how about a Havre de Grace restaurant - or make long-distance telephone calls. It is the third most popular holiday to send greeting cards. Anna Jarvis, a 45-year-old Philadelphian spinster and insurance clerk, was inspired to create Mother's Day after the death of her mother. With the financial backing by Philadelphia department store tycoon, John Wanamaker in 1907, Anna dedicated her life to fulfill her mother's dream of a national holiday to honor mothers everywhere.

Mom wouldn't want you to spend your scarce dollars on her. But you can spend the day with her and enjoy some free events. Baltimore County Golf is offering a free round of golf at two public courses, Greystone or Woodlands. The deal requires that mom be accompanied by at least one other fee-paying adult. Also, MrFreeStuff.com, a blog that writes about, well, free stuff, has these suggestions: A walk among the greenery on National Public Gardens Day. Free entry on May 11, not Mother's Day, at participating gardens . In Maryland, that's Adkins Arboretum, but you also can drive down to D.C. to go to Smithsonian Gardens and Tudor Place Historic House and Garden.

Winters Mill boys lacrosse coach Sal Picataggi gave senior midfielder Evan Horn high praise Wednesday when he simply stated: "When the game is on the line, I want the ball in Evan's stick. " In his third year on varsity, Horn, a captain, brings leadership, a good understanding of the game and a knack for making the smart play during the big moments. This season, he has six goals, 17 assists and 68 ground balls for the No. 11 Falcons. Also a four-year starter at point guard for the Falcons' basketball team, he is set to play hoops at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va. Before going off to college, Horn - a National Honor Society member who maintains a 3.75 GPA - would like nothing better than to close out his high school career with a state title in lacrosse.

It's time to meet the really, really bad parents. Look, no mom and dad are perfect. They make mistakes. They miss ball games. But Megan Draper's folks (played by guest stars Ronald Guttman and Julia Ormond. Julia freaking Ormond) fight loudly in French, cheat at an American Cancer Society Ball and basically make their daughter feel like crap. Also making her daughter feel like crap, in a particularly non-French but more brutal way, is Peggy's mom. Sigh. I want to give my parents a call and just have them say something nice to me. Lets start with Megan folks, who are visiting from Montreal (yet have really, really, really French accents)

Sam Darcangelo learned about lacrosse at a young age from her father, national Hall of Famer Jim Darcangelo, a two-time All-American at Towson and a U.S. national team player. She took to the sport quickly and turned into an All-Metro second-team player at Maryvale. A versatile midfielder, Darcangelo had scored 44 goals and added nine assists entering Wednesday for the No. 5 Lions this spring. She also plays for the ROME lacrosse club and for the Lions' field hockey team. She has signed to play at Florida next season.

The mother and daughter relax on a cushy sofa, laughing quietly as they speak of their unusual yet utterly normal life together. "Sometimes I get a little frustrated [with you], don't I, Talynn?" the mom asks. "Yes, but we always work it out," the 9-year-old replies, leaping onto Traci Lucien and applying a huge hug. "Nobody's taking my Mommy. She's tooken. We're together forever!" Talynn exclaims. It's an especially tender moment, considering the two met just two years ago. That was when Lucien, a single professional who was then 49, adopted Talynn (pronounced Tay-LINN )

At Tiny Toes, a children's boutique on Main Street in Bel Air, owner Karen Jacobs specializes in giving moms the Hollywood treatment. Jacobs and her employees, who are all moms, help customers select everything from clothing for their own kids to baby shower gifts for friends. “We try to provide a personal touch and create a special shopping experience,” says Jacobs, 36. “As a mom with two young kids, I understand you're busy, and I understand what it's like for other moms.” Jacobs, who has a 6-year-old son, Benjamin, and 4-year-old daughter, Charlotte, opened the boutique with her mom, Tina Lewis, in July 2006.

For 32 years, I have felt defined by my daughter. When I encounter someone at work or in the community, the first question I'm often asked is, "Where is Annie?" As if we were permanently joined at the hip. As if she has no life without me. As if I have no life without her. I sometimes wonder what people think of me - of my life - and of Annie. I sometimes feel that people see me as a one-dimensional caretaker of a perpetual child. The mother who sacrificed a "real career" to accommodate the needs of her daughter.

Nobody asked me but . . . . Few things are worse than having the aromas and flavors of a warm, brick-oven, wood-fired pizza (with rapini and soppressata) wiped away by a waitress who sprays Windex-type disinfectant on the table next to you while you're still dining. The Super Bowl has come and gone - time to protest the new puppy store in Columbia! Scientists who track these things believe last September's big storms may have drowned much of the region's stink bug population.