Jeff Hajny

    I didn't really know what to do for Mother's Day this past Sunday. I could do that same old lame flowers and the phone call thing, but instead I decided to put what my mom means to me in writing.
     My mom, Desiree Ann Hajny, is one of the coolest human beings I have ever met. She always has a big smile on her face no matter what and it seems like that whatever happens, she is always giggling. She is five-foot five inches of dynamite.
     I know that every time I go home, the first one I'll see will be my mom.
     Before I even get out of the car, my mom is there to give me one of her big "bear" hugs.
     My mom grew up as the oldest of four children in Iowa and Colorado. She and my dad met in college and married following my dad's graduation.
     She has always been artistically gifted and while working as an art teacher, she found her calling in life, woodcarving.
     Desiree started woodcarving after I was born because she wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.
     She wanted to make a living with her carvings and decided to enter the art field. My dad taught on the side to bring in extra money and helped her in any way he could.
     In 1995, my dad quit teaching and my parents decided to make a go of it with woodcarving. It's been amazing to see them work so hard to make something of it.
     One of the things I learned from watching my parents and their carving is to always work hard, be able to make sacrifices and to treat life like a marathon, not a sprint.
     I remember travelling to art shows with my parents and watching them go through quite a bit, getting sand kicked in their faces and being told they couldn't do it.
     Throughout all of it, my parents kept their heads up and kept trucking.
     My mom and dad are now two of the most recognized woodcarvers in the world. They have written numerous books, have travelled abroad to teach classes and participate in art shows and in 2003, my mom was named Woodcarving Illustrated's Woodcarver of the Year.
     They work together in a system of checks and balances. My mom handles the artistic aspects of the business while my dad acts as her manager, promoting her and keeping an eye on the financial side of the business.
     Even though they have had all of this success, both my mom and my dad still act like they have something to prove. They still work as hard as ever and are great inspirations for anyone.
     My mom is funny because when it comes to tastes, she's a typical artist. I've gone into her workshop and one minute she is listening to Enya or Celtic Folk music and then the next minute she is listening to Kid Rock or Eminem.
     It's funny to watch my mom sing along to all these angry, obscenity-filled rap lyrics as she paints or woodburns one of her carvings.
     Being a wildlife artist, my mom has a huge affinity for animals, even ones that people don't normally like.
     When I was growing up, I remember every time I would see a snake or a toad in the yard, I would catch it and bring it to my mom.
     You would think I had found the holy grail. My mom would sit and talk to them like they were little puppies or something.
     It's weird because animals love her too. I guess my mom is just one of those likeable people.
     Desiree and I don't really have your typical mother and son relationship. Sure, she's my mom and I'm her son, but she's also one of my best friends.
     Whenever I get together with my parents, my mom and I always have to go on a long walk at night to just vent to each other and solve the world's problems. We usually tell my dad that we'll be back in about a half-hour, but we get to talking and end up coming home about three or four hours after we left. We'll leave at nine o'clock at night and come back at about one or one-thirty the next morning.
     It's not our fault. We just like to talk. We can vent to one another about whatever or share a few laughs.
     My dad's used to it. Every time we say we'll be back in about 30, he has a look on his face like, "Ok, see you guys in the morning."
     No matter what has happened to me, my mom has always had my back.
     I know that no matter what bone-headed thing I do, my mom and dad will be there for me.
     The first person I go to whenever I need a hug is my mom. She's always willing to give them, too.
     There's no way I can pay my mom back for everything she's done for me and has meant to me. She isn't just the best mom ever, she's also one of the greatest people I've ever known. I'd like to end this with a quick note to my mom.
     Dear Mama Bear:
     On Sunday, it was Mother's Day. I wish I could have been there to celebrate it with you, but duty calls and a reporter's gotta do what a reporter's gotta do. I love you, I'm proud of you and happy late Mother's Day!
    Love,
    Your Baby Bear