Happy Mother’s Day To Terry Bertrand

In celebration of Mother's Day on Sunday May 13, we asked Patch readers to write a letter to their mother and let us deliver it. This is Cam Bertrand's letter to his mom:

I really don't know where to start, so let me start by saying this: There are a lot of great mothers out there. Tons. More than I could possibly imagine. But there is only one Terry Bertrand. One Terry Bertrand on this entire planet, and I was lucky enough to get her as my mother.

Now, I know plenty of people were raised by a single parent, and I can't speak for anyone else, but it really didn't feel like I missed out on anything. My mom was at every basketball game, every parent teacher conference, every field trip. She did everything in her power to be actively involved in my life and made sure I never wanted for anything. She was my best friend.

For most of my childhood I can remember my mom working two jobs, doing everything she possibly could just to keep food on the table and a roof over our heads. Raising three kids (my brother, my sister and myself) as a single mother should absolutely qualify her as a superhero — seriously. Iron Man couldn't imagine the amount of stress it must've been trying to raise the three of us. Nevertheless, my mother’s unwavering love and support was always evident. She really believed in us, and that's a feeling I can't even begin to describe. To have someone look at you, knowing all of your flaws, and just believe in you, no matter what is a feeling like no other. It makes you feel like you can do anything.

In the spring of 2013, I told my mom I wanted to go to Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University in Tallahassee. I wanted to attend college – not because I had a passion for physical therapy, but because I just thought going to college was what you were supposed to do. She did every single thing in her power to get me into FAMU, and this wasn't an easy task by any means. Not only did we not have the money for it, but I also didn't have many scholarships. Still, she fought for months on end to get me into this college, because that's what I told her I wanted.

Three weeks. That's how long I made it in college, three whole weeks. I was miserable. School wasn't my thing, but after all the energy, effort and hassle my mother went through to getting me there, I hated feeling like I failed her and was giving up.

This is how the phone call went when I told her:

“Hey, Momma.”
“What's wrong?”
“I just…”
“Tell me what's wrong. Are you alright?”
“Yeah. I just... I don't think college is for me.”
“Well, I'll be there in two days with a U-Haul. Don't worry, we'll figure it out. I love you! Oh, and go eat!”

That was it. It was that simple. She wasn't mad, she didn't make me feel like a failure and she didn't remind me of all the work she had gone through to get me there. She just understood.

The real reason I wasn't enjoying college was because I had started doing stand-up comedy a few months prior to leaving for Tallahassee, and that was all I could think about, all I wanted to do. So I dropped out of college, to pursue stand-up comedy full time, which is every mother’s biggest nightmare. It's not a career in which most people can make a living at, but my mom knew it's what I wanted to do, and she believed in me.

My mom has supported my career from the very beginning, and now almost five years later, at 24 years old, I currently live in Los Angeles California. I do stand-up every night with the best comedians in the country, I write jokes for hit TV shows (humble brag) and, more importantly, I get to live my dream — all because my mother, Terry Bertrand, believed in me and made sure she did everything she could to show me that.

The love I have for my mother could not possibly be put into words, but I tried. So thank you, Momma. I love you, and Happy Mother’s Day.

Your forever grateful son,
Cam Bertrand

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See all Mother's Day Letters here.

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For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to help you give Dad the best Father's Day gift ever. Write him a heartfelt letter to tell him how much he means to you, email it to locallove@patch.com and we'll feature it in your town's newsfeed on Father's Day. Get more details here.

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Image Credit: Cam Bertrand