My Dear Mother

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 as 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, 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.

We had always clean clothes, sometimes our uniforms were hand washed the night before and hung on the back of the refrigerator to dry, 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, 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.

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 rides or the cable cars in Amatitlan, old Esquilandia, 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 day trip and getting stuck in the sand with the pick up truck. Thinking about these and many more memories continue bringing a smile to my face.

The lunches you made me for school were simply delicious: French bread with ham, mayonnaise, tomatoes and onion. 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. 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. 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.

We had excellent birthdays, where on some occasions you prepared our cakes with your own hands. 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. Finally after begging so much, you granted us the chance to get our first pet, Daisy. We cried when the poor dog got sick, but you were with us to reconcile ourselves and explain the situation without fairy tales stories.

I remember the time we went to buy sneakers for me. I saw a pair I liked in the arches of Zona 1 opposite central park, but they were clearly out of your budget and you told me, “I can not do it my son.” A kind sales lady saw that you did not have enough money, put them in a store bag, handed it to you and said, “Thanks for your purchase, visit us again soon.” 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.”

Bringing a Christmas tree in our home even if it was a little one, was always your intent and you never failed. 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. 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, teaching us to pray and thanking our father for a new day.

You always kept your 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.

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. The group of about four friends including Jose Manuel offered him a small cake and a farewell party, but none of our mothers knew what we were planning. When the plans fell through, you took us back to our house without thinking twice. You said, “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.”

My Dear Mommy, I heard you apologize to Jose’s father and then leave the house. Ten to fifteen minutes later, you were back. 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: you prepared sandwiches, bought chips and made all of us banana milk shakes. 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.

After we finished our little meal I offered Jose some toys from my collection to take with him 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 liked them didn’t matter at all. I focused more on making that moment of conviviality special among my peers and what I had 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 are lots of stories like this one and much more; I could write a book. 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 health. A woman who was also incredibly strong and loyal that never gave up on her husband’s 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