When I was growing up my mother was always a friend to my siblings and me (in addition to being all the other things a mom is) and I was always grateful for that because I knew she was someone I could talk to and joke with and argue with and that nothing would ever harm that friendship.
When I was playing before I retired I never really understood the appreciation and the respect that people gave me. People had treated me like a god or something and that was very embarrassing.
