A little love note to my dearest mother on this Mother's day.
Momma and I, 1986, East Los Angeles, Ca.
On this Mother's Day, I wanted to write you this love note. Very often we think we know what a Mother is supposed to be like but as I approach a potential Motherhood, I realize what a great sacrifice it is to surrender our liberty and devote our time and attention to little ones that never really become big ones for decades to come.
You're not only my mother in this lifetime but my teacher. I adored you from the moment I saw you. I somehow always knew we were in for a journey since I was a little girl. A journey filled with challenges, love, and unity yet separation.
Momma and I, 1986, East Los Angeles, Ca
You are the definition of strength, courage, love, and proof that anything is proof that anything is possible. Despite this, there are times when I wish I was the mother and you the child so I can hold you and protect you the way a mother does a child. The first time I remember feeling this way was when I was 3 or 4 years old. It almost felt as though I was allowing you to play my Mother while I held the answers to our world's problems. I was very aware of this life game that we were playing, and for various reasons, I didn't understand why we had to experience the things we did. As I get older, I realize there is so much more to learn about life that only comes with years of experience as we encounter different phases in our lives. I cherish you for being patient as we stumble, trip and fall while you knew if we had just taken your advice we would've avoided inevitable bumps on the road. Thank you for coming before me and paving a way, I know it was not an easy journey.
Almost 32 years later, I understand why it all had to happen the way it did. I knew I would understand it "someday" but that day never seemed to come. Although, it has not all fallen into place yet I see the pieces falling into their designated fields. These pieces come in the form of lessons, lessons of unconditional love, humility, poverty, abundance, grace, family, laughter, tears, tough love, loneliness yet at the end of the day here we stand, vigorous and full of grace.
Momma and I, 1986, East Los Angeles, Ca.
I want you to know how lucky I feel to have you. You are a Queen disguised in this lifetime. I love how selective, real, and honest you are with people. Thank you for teaching me about humility, about kindness, about honesty, about integrity and having a clear conscious. Thank you for teaching me to be simple and not to have things I don't need. Thank you for reminding me to be a good woman even the times I didn't listen. Thank you for loving me unconditionally. I love you with all my heart, soul and spirit.
I'm excited to see more pieces fall into their place. I'm excited to celebrate many more years of Mother's Day celebrations, of laughter, of love, of tears, and of adventures. You are my everything.
Love,
Angie
Three generations, Grandma, Mom, and I, Maya Hotel, Long Beach, Ca.