So many memories! After mommy had heart surgery (in 1998) she came home from the hospital with a strict low sodium diet. That meant, NO SALT, only salt substitutes. Well,......we all tried to keep her in line with the NO SALT diet. She was having a very hard time adjusting to her new diet. (I felt bad cuz she loved salt and she couldnt have any) One of so many times we went out to eat after her doctor appointments, I let her put salt on her food (ok ,maybe it wasnt one time, most of the time) she loved it! She would look at me......and say, "no mas un poquito de sal hija, halcabo en la casa no como sal." What could I say but this, "ok, mommy. Pero no le diga a nadien porque entonces me van a regañar." The first time I told her this, boy, was she upset and asked me, "Quien te va regañar?!" I didnt expect her reaction. ( I guess she was having salt withdrawals. ha) And she continued to tell me, "Es mi cuerpo....si yo quiero comer sal, yo voy a comer sal!" And with that being said, we had numerous and pleasant times eating out, as long as she had a little bit of salt. I miss eating out with mommy! (This was way before she started getting sick.) I love you so much mommy!
One of so many memories that stands out in my mind is the time that she managed to plan my wedding within a week. I don't know how she did it, but she was amazing. While Mommy was at work, Felix came with his parents during the evening and ask for my hand in marriage. They spoke to Daddy and he gave us his blessing. The following morning Daddy told Mommy (or maybe Daddy was waiting for Mommy to get home to tell her, I dont know) well, Mommy was already waking me up to go get measured for a wedding dress. She took me to her friends' house (she was a seamstress) gave her directions on how to make the dress, nice and simple. Then we went to see my future mother-in-law to make plans for the ceremony. She was in charge. My mother-in-law always remembers how mother came over to her house and decided on everything from the invitations to the food. She said Mommy was quick on making decisions. Everything went well, and I will always remember how Mommy planned ahead. I love you Mommy and I miss you so much.
This picture is one of so many birthday's taken with mom. The last several years I celebrated my birthday at home with mom and dad. I wanted to make sure I celebrated my blessings of life with them. Last year Nov. 2008 was the last memory shared with her. I was very sick & just went to see them on Sun. at the nursing home. I guess God was preparing me for this year. I will never forget mom and dad giving me a dresser with a big red bow. I couldn't get into my room because it was right in front of my door. It was such a feeling that mom and dad always thought of giving me something or just telling my Happy Birthday. Mom, I really miss you so much everyday.
My Mom was the best ever. I cannot remember anytime that I ever heard her talking bad about anyone. She loved to share whatever she had and if she could, she would do good things no matter the situation. It feels like a dream. I want to wake up and see that she is still around. Everywhere I turn there is something that reminds me of her. The last week that she was at LifeCare Hospital,I was taking care of her on a Friday. I remember she slept most of the night. Early Saturday morning,I woke up startled and stood near her bed and I started to touch her face. "I love you,I love you,I love you,Mom" That's all I could say. Then she opened her eyes,looked at me and with every strength of her body she said "I LOVE YOU" Those words will always be in my heart as long as I live. It is overwhelming for me to go to the VA. Her eating place,her bed, the hall,the patio (front and back),the lobby,therapy room(drinking coffee),and sitting next to Dad,are the memories that make my heart ache sooooo...very much!!!!! Mom,though she didn't know it, had a good sense of humor. "Que, azucar en la sangre?" "Fueron a un entiero? No Grandma Fuimos a traer yelo" Y hora que?" were just a few of the things that she would say when her hearing wasn't good. However, the foremost thing that stayed in my memory were the times that she would say "QUE PADRE!" Whatever we did for her it was "Que Padre" Que padre cafe,que padre me tapaste,que padre la comida. Now I'm sure that she is saying "Que Padre es estar contigo Dios mio." I loved her tamales during the Christmas Holidays. She made the best menudo every other Sunday and ahhh her homemade corn tortillas were the best. Everytime she had a perm made, she would say "Me miro bien, verda hija?" Young or old, Mom was a beautiful lady. She loved to take pictures and of course she would pose in all of them(now I know from whom my daughters got it from, especially Vena) and let's not forget all the "Thank yous" that she expressed to anyone that took her picture. "Thank you my dear" I could go on and on of all my mom's memories. She was the best!!! I love her and miss her so very much!!!!!
Memories.....there are so many. I remember all the afternoons we would sit outside on the porch, just talking about everything, anything or nothing. When Sarah was attending school, the school bus would drop her off at Mom and Dad's house. Mom would always walk up to the school bus to meet her and guide her to the porch. Mommy always had food ready for Sarah to eat. Especially homemade flour tortillas with beans and rice or fideo or Sarahs favorite, homemade french fries. If mom was cooking when Sarah arrived, Daddy would wait for her on the porch and the bus lady would guide her. Sarah quickly knew mommy was cooking and she would go straight to the kitchen and meet mommy and tell her, "Hi Grandma, como esta? Que hizo,Grandma? Mommy always had everything especially placed on the table for Sarah. After Sarah was done eating, we would sit outside for hours at a time, just talking. Sometimes it was too hot, we'd go inside and take a nap. We miss you Mommy.
