It’s been almost 22 years since my mom passed away. It seems like a lifetime and only a moment ago all in the same instant. I was the last one in the family to see her alive as I said goodbye to her in the ICU. She reminded me to bring her “yo-yo’s” that were in a bag by her bed. I looked at her and said, “Okay, Mama, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I was the first to get the call from the hospital at 1:20 am the next morning, “Ms. Campos, I’m sorry, your mother has passed away.” In a crazed, devastated, anxious instant, I screamed. Joe grabbed the phone and said, “We are on our way.” I called Minnie, my mom’s best friend, and told her the news and she came over within minutes to stay with my newborn, my beautiful boy, Julian, who was only five weeks old.
How would I ever tell him how wonderful his grandmother was? She was supposed to be here to help me figure out how to take care of him…and how to make sense of hemophilia! I didn’t think I could go on.
I remember her hands, the feel of her skin. Her topaz ring and gold band with the little Mexican hat dangling from its ring. Her nails may have been unpolished, but she always had lipstick nearby. But her laugh! Oh, her laugh…she didn’t make a sound until she absolutely had to catch her breath! We laughed together at some of the silliest things…and never at the most appropriate of times.
Her purse was a goldmine. Not because she had a lot of money, but because she always had a bank envelope (or two or three) floating around and there was always a little “lunch” money that she had forgotten about that came in handy.
I miss her. Just as if she left this world yesterday.
I’m just glad I remember the feel of her hands.
Today I Am Thankful For
- Oscar de la Renta
- A wonderful lunch with the family
- A quiet afternoon
- Laughter
- memories
