Mami—Mrs. P’s mother—would have been ninety-five today. Of course, her birthday was less important to her than that other event that comes around this time of year, Mother’s Day. That was the day that mattered to her, the day she cherished.
Mami in 2003, three years before she died
She was a most wonderful lady, more Mima than suegra (mother-in-law) to me, suffering my malaprop-laden, halting Spanish, willing to put up with my gringo ways, always treating me as her hijo, ready to laugh or tell a story, ready to correct the younger generation’s errant ways when necessary.
She was the quintessential Abuela, always making platters of bistec empanizado, always with a stock of Klondike bars for a grandson and a thoughtful ear for a granddaughter, always slipping us a twenty for gas on the ride home, always ready to cuddle the newest baby.
She drove me nuts with her damn tissues and the rubberbands on books (don’t know why, that just got me) and that cloying fruit cocktail. She made me laugh with her potato salad on pizza and her over-the-glasses arched eyebrow of disapproval. She made me love her. In spite of the tripe. Maybe even because of it.
Here’s un regalito, Mami. Cuidate. Descansa. ¡Feliz cumpleaños y feliz día de las madres!
I Remember Mami, part 1: Background
I Remember Mami, part 2: The RV Adventure
I Remember Mami, part 3: Settling In
I Remember Mami, part 4: Preparing for Christmas
I Remember Mami, part 5: Mami and Papi
I Remember Mami, part 6: Christmas with the Folks
I Remember Mami, part 7: Christmas Rust (an Unwanted Colour)
I Remember Mami, part 8: First Fade and Seeing the Doctor
I Remember Mami, part 9: Help! ‘Cuz We’re Fading, Too!
I Remember Mami, part 10: María in Our Lives
I Remember Mami, part 11: Mami Makes a Decision
I Remember Mami, part 12: Hospice Is Where the Heart Is
I Remember Mami, part 13: Ding-Dong! Hospice Calling!
I Remember Mami, part 14: Because One Old Lady Isn’t Enough
I Remember Mami, part 15: More Visits and a Big Fade
I Remember Mami, part 16: You Want What????
I Remember Mami, part 17: Welcome to the United Nations
I Remember Mami, part 18: Reassurance
I Remember Mami, part 19: Thanksgiving
I Remember Mami, part 20: Una Rosa Blanca
I Remember Mami, part 21: Together Again
Words © 2011 AtHome Pilgrim.
All Rights Reserved.
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Comments
I'm missing my women today, too. and that's as it should be.
lovely piece pilgrim. thank you.
r
Monkey: I saw, and your regret was beautiful.
Susie: If you're really going to do that, you should have a box of tissues handy. (And your head examined . . . .)
LL: Smiling.
vanessa: Ha! Well, sumer is icumen in, You'd have to be cuckoo! If you do (and I'd be honored), make sure you have a mess of tissues handy.