It is an honor to have the opportunity to dedicate these beloved words to you since you are the reason I have the chance to enjoy this beautiful life. My noble and loving but always strong Mommy that despite many shocking situations and harsh experiences in life you were able to take us forward, playing the role of mother and father at the same time, not by choice but simply because that’s what destiny handed us, today my father as much is I are very proud of the dedication and hard work you did for us.

From the simplicity, responsibility, humility and respect you instilled in us to the attention and love that you granted us before and after your long work days. You had always the energy and dedication to make us unforgettable home cooked meals like your delicious beans, traditional eggs with tomato and onion, have my coffee always ready with milk and sweet bread to soak in, hilachas, revolcado (Lie! revolcado never gave me appetite, but everyone speaks of it for being so rich in flavor and especially prepared) my carnita adobada  yum, homemade pizzas and much more.

I remember as a kid, when you were going to be absent from work there was always a note left with a set of meals that were already prepared (that always ended with a remarkable: I Love You) with instructions on how to heat it up, adhere ingredients and where the utensils were, if there was fresh juice or home made lemonade in the fridge, as well as  indicating us to finish our homework from school and to behave well without fighting or mischief.

We had always clean clothes (sometimes our uniforms were hand washed the night before and hung on the back of the refrigerator to dry remember?) as well as help to keep ourselves clean. We took showers with cold water for a little while as we did not have a water heater, but when you had the chance you heated water in the pot and mixed it with cold water in a bucket just to spoil us a little.

Waking up with loud music from the radio on Saturday mornings, (the volume button on the stereo was broken and set on high, the one in the photo on top) since you didn’t work weekends usually that was the day you chose to clean the house. You taught me how to sweep, mop the floor, dust and wash the dishes as it should be “well done”. Our house was always clean; no excuses.

The sacrifice by providing what was within reach as going to the park in the neighborhood, the Cerrito Del Carmen to slide in cardboard on the grass , boat ride or the cable cars in Amatitlan, old Esquilandia near the arches were the airport is, Hipodromo del Norte, horseback riding on Americas Ave and then go eat ice cream at  POPS,  La Red pools in Escuintla, going  to the Beach on a one a day trip and getting stuck in the sand with the pick up truck, the times we got the chance to go to Buenaventura park, thinking about  these and many more memories continue bringing a smile to my face.

The lunches you made me for school (yum); French bread with ham, mayonnaise, tomatoes and onion- simply delicious. (I remember that many friends at school asked me to share my lunch with them and a couple of them offered me to pay you to make them lunch) Poor kids, their parents gave them only money to buy ugly food or snacks at school.

Thank you for being an example and helping us build a solid foundation and giving us confidence that we were able to accomplish anything we set our mind to. You taught me to drive a car at 10 years old in the Las Flores cemetery when visiting my Father (rest in peace). I was not even able to reach the pedals, I had to sit on the edge of the seat and hold myself with the left hand behind the steering wheel in order to press the clutch because it was hard. (My sister was the first one to try with out success, the car kept shutting off after several failed attempts, I was the one who learned how to drive that day, only failing once, and turning off on the first try, the second time was the charm, managing to change to second gear. (I wanted to try the 3^rd gear but you said I was going too fast LOL)

I remember riding on the hood of the pick up truck with our feet on the grill guard and also standing on the truck bed as if we were celebrities! (It was pretty cool. People were admired every time we passed by, probably thinking we were the crazy family. For the record this was always in the cemetery where there wasn’t any traffic)

We had excellent birthdays, where on some occasions you prepared our cakes with your own hands. (I try it now with my own children and I’m not doing too bad as you know) You always let us eat what was left in the extensions of the hand mixer like butter and sugar and let us put our hands in the mix when the chocolate frosting was ready for the cake.

Remember also finally after begging so much , you granted us the chance to get our first pet; Daisy (Blacky’s sister, the cousins dog) but because of bad luck the poor dog got sick.  We could not give her vaccines because of economic scarcity. We cried that time with my sister, but you were with us to reconcile ourselves and explain the situation without fairy tales stories.

The time we went to buy sneakers for me, I saw ones that I liked in the arches of Zona 1 opposite central park. A pair that I spotted in the window (converse if I’m not mistaken) but they were clearly out of your budget and you told me “I can not do it my son,” However you bargained like all good chapina‘s do but they were still a high price, so you dug in your purse and counted what you had .The sales Lady realized that you weren’t lying and that you didn’t have they money to pay for the sneakers. My face was sad as every 7-8 child would be. The Lady approached you and said “take them, give me what you have, I’ll deal with the owners later “and you answered her right away “I don’t want to cause you any problems but thank you anyways” I looked at the lady again and she winked at me, she put them back in the box and then into a store bag, she walked over to us handed the bag to you and said: “thanks for your purchase, visit us again soon”

Right away you thanked her and then you turned around and looked at me, I was still a little confused and you said:  “son what do you say” took me a second to realize what had happened and right after I said “thank you so much Miss”. That day, my dear mother, we did not even have enough money leftover for the bus ride back home, but without a doubt you turned towards my sister and I saying: “We will figure it out no worries.” We located the bus that would take us home and you entered us in the back door without being noticed, your entered through the  front door and gave the few cents you had available only for the ride. (I think it was more your beauty that helped in this occasion than the good will of the driver lol)

God bless the lady who granted us her heart, because it was not the amount of money that made the difference that day but the good intentions that she gave with out knowing us.

Bringing a Christmas tree in our home even if it was a little one, was always your intent and you never failed. (Remember one year you bought a tree that was just a stick with silver painted branches, that poor tree was really something else and a little ugly lol) We always decorated them together in harmony and although we didn’t have a variety of the most expensive toys we were always well pleased on what we had and more importantly we valued your presence and attention more than anything else.  Also I remember we shared and celebrated the birth of your baby Jesus (a gift from grandpa) and our different nativity designs to pray thanking God for sending his son for our salvation.

Teaching us and bringing us up with the hand of God, attending mass, putting the sign of the cross on our foreheads every time we leave home to go somewhere, teaching us to pray and thanking our father for a new day, the chance for our existence, a roof to sleep in and food to eat. Always welcoming the posadas with open doors in our home and preparing delicious ponche for all our guests. As well as carrying the posada in our “pony” pick up truck to travel into other neighborhoods to share this special message of love. (Wow how many good memories of adults and children playing their turtles and horns in the streets following the rhythm in traffic “tucu ta cutu tucu ta cutu,” remember?)

You always kept you heart and our home with open doors for anyone who passed through it; giving good advice to family and friends just like you did to us. Always providing a plate of food even if wasn’t much or something simple, going out at the last minute to buy something in a rush to always be courteous. Sharing what you had with anyone without thinking twice. (Our “pony” pick-up truck, the only car we had at the time that my Father left us for our use. Who didn’t drive that car? and was always available to be borrowed)

I have another story and I’m sure you will remember this: When I was in third or fourth grade in Santa Maria school, a friend named Jose Manuel was moving to the U.S, it was announced last minute during class, the teacher sadly found out about his departure and we were all shocked as well, it was something hard to understand because the school year had just begun for us a few months before. He was leaving on a one way trip in two days. We met and talked with him when we had the opportunity after the shocking news. The group of about 4 friends including Jose Manuel offered him a small cake and a farewell party and we gave him the address of one of our friends. (I was part of the plan but I didn’t offer the cake part nor I offered our house fyi) this took place and of course none of our mothers knew what we were planning. The bell rang and everyone went their own way, we took the yellow BC bus with my sister and went home. By then I don’t think we had a telephone in the house yet. (oh those times LOL, which reminds me of another story) Jose arrived with his father to the first house in the late afternoon and apparently the parents in that home had no clue what was going on. Next, my friends and Jose’s father knocked at the door of our house; I was really surprised to see them since I didn’t expect them to come and Jose lived really far away from our neighborhood. I told them: “My mom’s is not home” Since you were working, we all decided head to the third house  which was where the cake and the party would take place, and of course as I was getting ready you showed up and offered us a ride. As we arrived, surprisingly we found another friend waiting at the door but sadly no one responded our knocks. I felt so bad and sad because I did not have an explanation for Jose and his father. Although it was not my idea to plan the meeting, I was part of it and felt responsible. You took us back to our house without thinking twice and told me on the way “What a shame that you kids offered him a farewell party, they came all the way here on a bus and now there is nothing ready for them.” I felt so bad and I explained the whole story, because I really wanted and had all the intention of ​​carrying out the plan. We entered the living room and Jose’s father took a seat and you offered him a drink, I took my friends to my room where I had all my toys in the last drawer of my cabinet and started playing, you showed up looked me in the eyes and said “I’ll be right back.”

My Dear Mommy let me remind you, I heard you apologize to Jose’s father and then left the house, 10-15 minutes later I heard you were back and talking back and fourth with Jose’s father. Right after, I heard the sound of the blender, a few minutes after you called all of us to the dining room and (BOOM) time to eat, the meal was served; you prepared sandwiches, bought chips and made all of us banana milk shakes.

You know how incredibly great and happy you made me feel that day; my heart couldn’t fit in my chest. You, super mom, saved us all that day. It was a lesson and experience learned that I have had on my mind since then. I was able to count on you despite the situation at such last minute. I felt so full in every sense of the word. After we finished our little meal I offered Jose some toys my collection to take with him told him to choose the ones he liked in memory of his friends. He selected a nice red race bike with real rubber tires that I loved, but the toys and how much I like them didn’t matter at all, I focused more on making that moment of conviviality special among my peers and what I have learned from you that day, to give and not expect to receive. This is one of the many times that you were there for me and my friends in a unique way, special and better than “YOUR WAY TO BE”, there is lots of stories like this one and much more than I could write a book from.

Thanks for always being by our side despite several downturns we caused, always ensuring what is right and never giving preference though we were your children, never getting off your guard, teaching us to face situations and to fulfill what we promised.

A single mother who always had her pants in place to take the reins and household decisions, before and after the departure of my father from his lack of heath. A woman who was also incredibly strong and loyal that never gave up on her husbands fight against his illness despite knowing the fate that awaited him; staying by his side and  holding his hand until he took his last breath.

Your unconditional love was and still is out of this world, for us and for anyone who crosses your path. I could not be more thankful to God for such an excellent decision to have chosen YOU for our lives.

We hope to enjoy more great years and your wonderful presence alongside my little ones in the name of God.

From your son who loves and adores you very very much!

PR

This post is also available in: Spanish