Remembering My Mom

This is my Mom at the age of 27, she would of been 80 today.  This post is two-fold as today is El Dia De Los Muertos and my Mom's birthday.  My Mom came from Santa Rosalia , Baja California and she was one of 11 children.  She was the only one of her siblings who had come to the United States to live.  Her life story was very interesting and how she came to meet my father but I won't elaborate.  After being married to a domestic abuser, she left him with the help of my Grandmother {my Dads's Mother} and ended up living with my Aunt {my Dads's sister}. She then met my father, who quickly fell in love with her,  they married and had two children, my brother and I.  When I moved to Hawai'i and my brother went into the Navy their very up and down marriage became sour  and my Mom moved back in with my Aunt. When my father passed away in 1993 from a heart attack,  we were going through all of his things and the above picture was still in his wallet, after all those years, it was all battered and torn.  I think this picture was his favorite of my Mother.  She was a beautiful person and SO FUNNY!  She was always cracking jokes and she had a knack for decorating, Martha Stewart could of learned a thing or two from my MOM.   Her Christmas packages always looked so pretty with a gorgeous ribbon and a sprig of greenery that she would of snipped from the yard.  She loved plants and had a green thumb, her favorites were succulents and California Native plants.  She loved Cottages and quaint little homes in quaint little towns {No wonder I also love cottages, I'm so much like her in that respect}.  Sadly she passed away from Alzheimers a few years ago.  That pitiful disease stole her mind, the dementia was difficult for me to witness as everyday it took a piece of her away from me bit by bit. I miss her everyday but I continue her traditions of making her famous Machaca or decorating a "Themed Christmas Tree I keep her memory alive for my Children.  I LOVE YOU MOM!!  Happy Birthday!

This was the last Christmas we spent with her, Abuela {grandmother in Spanish} as the girls called her.  We miss her very much.

Comments

[Gabrielle]

Thanks Monica...we did have a great relationship.

[Monica C]

Ellie, growing up you were the apple of her eye. She was a special lady.

[Monica]

GREAT READING IT....God Bless her and all your family.

[Gabrielle]

thank you Mary...yes..she was something else...I know when you saw her at the Library....that one time...

[Mary]

Beautiful Ellie! I know your mom was so proud of you and loved you very much! It was quite interesting as I did witness the disease still your mom away. My first real experience of that horrible disease. She was a very caring and funny person. Oh the memories, you are so blessed to have those. And good memories they are!