Momma Dearest

Mommy helping me take my first steps Grandma's back yard 1993

May 1st of 2011 I was getting on an airplane to give my Momma a hug on her birthday night in Venezuela.  American Airlines awful customer service ended up getting me lost and I missed my flight, which didn't have another going to Venezuela until the following day.  I remember a pressure in my chest as warm tears rushed down my face in anger that people can be that incredibly rude and unhelpful, and agnoy that I was going to miss my mom's birthday for the first time in my life. 

Playing in the snow 1993

After 365 of Earth's pirouettes I was back in the same sadness I was last year.  I miss my mom and it is now two years in a row I haven't gotten to be with her on her special day.  She such an amazing woman, full of strength kindness and forgiveness.  She's always been so good at making me laugh when I needed it the most, had the best advice and the most wonderful hugs. I miss waking up to her blaring music on a Sunday while she'd clean the house, or even better when she'd come into my room lay in bed with me and baby talk me, then pop my toes and tell me to get up. I miss cooking with her, riding bikes with her, crawling into her bed to annoy her while she'd try to read. I miss taking naps with her, and going to run errands with her. How is it possible we always managed to have fun on a trip to the bank, or picking up groceries at Wal-Mart?  I am proud to be so similar to her, I'm basically her replica. I love looking at pictures and going, HOLY CRAP, is that me or momma?  I know exactly who it is, but our similarites are quite astonishing.  I love that we think so similarly, and we feel emotions in almost the same way, we sit and we talk and we completely understand one another when no one in the world can manage to grasp us. I am sad that I can't be there to make her breakfast and help her clean the house with loud music playing and dance together or sing together, or just laugh together. I wish I could be there to eat a mango with her under the mango tree talking about our dreams and our goals, our plans and our passions.  She is one of the only people I know who have as strong a passion as I do.  I want to sit in the shade listening to birds chirp and smell the sweet Maracaibo air talking about the people we love and share memories together.  My mom is truly the best mother any person could ever ask for, whatsoever. No one could ever live up to her in my eyes, and I look forward to writing her amazing biography.  With her shining example, patient guidance and steadfast love, I hope to grow to be a reflection of all her best qualities.   May this next year be filled with prosperity and peace for her. <3  

Christmas 2006