Took my mom to see this film, along with one of her closest friends, as part of celebrating her 63rd birthday this weekend. Like most Swedish women her age, she loves ABBA (she was in her 20’s when they dropped their biggest hits on the world). A love she has passed on to me, but which regretfully wasn’t enough for me to turn a blind eye (or rather to say, deaf ear) to the corniness and partially amateurish singing in the first film. Not bad on the whole, but it didn’t really do it for me, the way that it was executed and performed.

Seeing this sequel wasn’t about me though. It was about the angelic, inspiring and amazing woman that I’ve been blessed to have as a mother and caretaker through thick and thin. She’s always been there for me, lifted me out of the darkness and taught me the meaning of true compassion and kindness. She’s also one of the funniest women you’ll ever meet.

So when this follow-up turned out to be a total, goosebump-inducing blast, elevating itself to a spot among my favorite cinemusicals (I don’t know if that’s an actual word people use, but that’s what I call them), my surprise and joy went through the roof!

So I say: Thank you for the music, for the feelgood feels, for three very special cameos and the upbeat and life-affirming rush in our veins. Thank you for the dancing kings and queens and for letting us feel like winners taking it all. But mainly and most importantly, thanks for giving my mom, someone who means the world to me, the time of her life, moving her to tears!