After a turbulent start to 2020, this month, my beloved Mom, who instilled in me a love of reading which led to a passion for creative writing, transitioned from her physical presence on Earth to a spiritual presence in Heaven where she now watches over me and my family. I've been filling my days with writing a new novel, revising and editing two novels--one I hope to publish this year. I'm including this letter which I posted on Instagram on Mother's Day. Hug your Moms and tell them you love them while you still can!
Dear Mama,
Even though it’s only been 2 days since you left us so prematurely and so suddenly, we know for sure that we can never ever get used to not having you around. There’s a void that can never be filled. We will always remember and thank you for all the ways you showed us your love: through your cooking, through encouraging us to follow our dreams, through teaching us to love each other, and to be kind to others. In the words of Frederick, one of my writing students who recently sent his condolences: “What does one say to a dear friend that has lost their Mother? I was at a loss of to write about your loss. I can't imagine the feeling. I don't want to imagine it. Losing a Mother has to be different than any other family member. Mom was the most important thing in a child's life. And no matter how old we get they will always be Mom and we will always be her child.” ***
I want to thank you for introducing me to a love of reading which led to a lifelong passion for writing. I always tell people ‘my Mom knows how to speak 4 languages: Tagalog, English, a proficiency in Spanish, and definitely, a fluency in the language of LOVE!’
It was truly my honor to take care of you the past month, during which time you imparted to me some inspirational words of healing: *When you said, “I wouldn’t be here without you,” and you meant that you wouldn’t be able to manage without my help, to which I responded with, “But Mama, remember, I WOULDN’T be here without you.”
*When I asked you to forgive me for all the times I gave you a hard time growing up,” you replied with, “There’s nothing to forgive.”*When you said, “Thank you,” after the times I gave you your medicine or fed you your meals when you were bedbound, to that I replied, “No, Mama, THANK YOU for being the Best Mom Ever, for doing the best you could do for us, for giving birth to us, for being patient with us, and for loving us unconditionally. You will always live in our hearts and we will love you forever.
