Baggies on Toes. Puppets on Hands. Surprises beneath pillows. Indian Feathers. Precious gems with special notes. Mantras and meditations. Museums and funky music. Sleepovers and pool tables. Calculations and Dictees. Box of special toys and art at the art table. Beautiful and thoughtful gifts wrapped in a rainbow of colors. Yoga camps and Love. New ideas and cars parked high up on our hill in the snow. Laughter and hugs. Dancing, playing and gentle teasing. Smooth rocks for stress and intricate rocks for separation. Dancing feathers and Inuit folklores.
The Music of our Lives.
The 6th person in our Family of Five.
What we go to bed being grateful for every night.
What do all of these things have in common? They are one beautiful package tied up in the form of our Nana Didi, my Heartbeat, My Mom, a phenomenal Grandmother.
In this blog one of my core reasons to write it is to be grateful. Often on my Weekly Gratitude section I will spotlight someone very important in my life and I could not begin this tradition without putting the most important person at the very beginning. I believe much, much more in giving people recognition and showing gratitude when they are living that after it is too late. I believe very much in the importance of eulogies-but I believe even more so in life itself.
The essence of her is hard to describe-but you know you have come in contact with her when you feel like your life has been lit up. She is a free spirit full of energy, smartness, uniqueness and she is just completely and utterly cool. That is the inside of her-but the outside is just as phenomenal. She looks (no joke her at all) in her forties and her skin is soft as a baby’s bum. She is always fashionable and always put together. Her brown lipstick and black pants with cozy tops is her signature. Her hair is always perfect and she is beaming and glowing straight from the inside. She has a gorgeous smile.
Anyone who comes in contact with her is impressed by her grace and her ability to connect. She is regal, she is classy, she is a bit off the top and she will light you up like a flashlight.
She is solitary and stands alone. She is also surrounded by friends and brings out the best in people. She will listen to you, challenge you and comfort you. She will share herself with all of us.
If I had to describe her in two words it would be peaceful and joyful. She is a beautiful and lovely and graceful bird.
As I write this I cannot believe how lucky I have been to be her girl. She has been all mine my entire life. Always there to answer me and comfort me. Never more than a phone call, an email, a talk or a hug away. I am surrounded by her love on a minute by minute basis. Even if I had no one else in the world-I would be fine because she would be there for me.
My kids are every bit as lucky as I have been. She is as much part of her life, as me and their Dad. When she is there it’s as if we are there (although probably much, much more fun!). We have created an extended family, a little village to raise these three cubs and we all do it together. The definition of a win-win situation. I need help and she needs work. It’s the best thing that ever happened to me really. My Mom is the glue that holds our home, our family and our organized yet chaotic life together. She is the crazy glue that makes us all stick. She is the core of the apple and the caramel surrounding it all making it perfectly yummy.
And the best part about our Didi? She is in constant evolution..constant improvement. She is a receiver of feedback if there ever was one (and gosh have I given her some good doses over the years!). She is the definition of growth and high potential. She never gives up and she just keeps on growing, and learning, and realizing and changing.
All that to say-you get the jist..I am completely madly deeply and truly in love with my Mom. She and I have an amazing and extremely wonderful relationship that has grown and changed and evolved over the years to what is...exactly what I need in my life now and forever.
I have questioned her and expressed to her sadness, disappointment and even anger of some of the ways my childhood or adolescence went that I wish had gone differently. I have expressed recognition, love and appreciation for my childhood and adolescence for many of the other parts that I would not trade an inch for. I have learnt from her mistakes-and she has provided a safe embrace for me as I make my own mistakes as Mother.
As a team –we are very powerful. We compliment eachother’s stengths and weaknesses very well. The united front my kids receive is very, very balanced.
As I end this post....I want you to know Mom that in this “second “part of my life with my big birthday coming up...one of my goals is to learn from your peacfulness and joy and become more like you in this way. I admire it. I respect it. I covet it. I want it. Teach me how?
I know that you are there for me Mom. I can count on you to save me from fires, protect me from robberies and run with me quickly ,swiftly and together whenever we are in danger. I am grateful to be yours.
Love you forever and a Day.
Your Baby Cheena
