To my mami on her 61st birthday - August 22nd 2014

My mom and I at Hammam Andalusi & Spa - Lasalle, Qc

22 reasons to be happy that it is your 61st birthday and that 40 something years ago, you came to Canada!

You got married to a handsome tall blond man

(Yeah, I know it didn’t work out: BUT GUESS WHAT, IT IS HIS LOSS!!)

You got to discover a new country and culture

You got an opportunity to learn English and French

You got some freedom to explore, party, work & travel

You got to meet dad 

(Yeah, I know, HE WAS NOT SO GREAT, BUT…)

You had Tarik and me

You had three restaurants and you became an amazing cook 

(Everyone, whether they meet you once or many times, KNOWS YOU GOT THE HOT STUFF in the kitchen baby!!!)

You got lots of joy with Tarik’s fantastic grades and awards

You got lots of joy with my artsy and sporty talents

(Okay, I know, we caused you lots of headaches, BUT ONLY THE STRONG AND BRAVE AT HEART get the special mission to take care of two souls by yourself and do an AMAZING JOB like you did!)

You had us all to yourself so we can bike together, do picnics, play tennis, go swimming, play gazpacho, do karaoke in the living room, eat breakfast in bed for birthdays, etc…and so much more!

You are blessed, because you could always help your neighbors

You are a blessed, because when people took advantage, you still had everything you needed for your household

You got to see your children grow up, work during the summers, play theaters and talent shows…most importantly…we never had any serious illness and were blessed with GOOD HEALTH!

(yes, I suffered from terrible migraines, you had a scare with breast cancer and Tarik had a few allergies, BUT THAT DIDN'T STOP US!)

You got to marry a young man, help his family and travel to Chile

(Yes, YOU DID IT FROM YOUR HEART, to help a family!)

You worked INCREDIBLY HARD for us, night and day

(yes, you could not always be there to make sure we didn’t stay up late or get into trouble, BUT WE LEARNED, and although it was many years later, WE LEARNED THE VALUE OF RESPECTING OURSELVES!)

You got to meet Jacques

(Yeah, you never thought you would date a PURE LAINE, BUT, through the good, the bad and the ugly, somehow, by God’s grace, you guys stuck it through, even when Tarik and I could not be there for you as we wished we could) 

You got an opportunity to leave the YWCA

(Yes, this was not easy, as you loved to work, BUT IT WAS A GREAT DECISION for your peace of mind)

You got to buy, renovate and sell homes with Jacques throughout the years

You got to have beautiful gardens and animals as you always dreamed of

You got to travel all over the US and through Canada

BECAUSE YOU CAME TO CANADA, a day before your birthday all those years ago

You got to have Nick, Marven, Trinity, Noa and Amary in your life

(Yes I KNOW, the relationships with all of us is not how we all wished, BUT we are all HEALTHY, INDEPENDENT and GOOD PEOPLE!)

You got to develop your love, your patience, your forgiveness, your generosity THROUGH ALL OUR FAMILY’s tribulations AND YOU ARE STILL GOING STRONG!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAMI! 

I wrote these 22 reasons, although there are many more, so you never forget on your birthday that you are the most blessed woman I know, not because of things or people around you, but because of your endurance, love and will to persevere through everything life has to offer!

I thank God for your birthday and your life!

With the deepest love a daughter can have for her mother,

Te quiero con todo mi Corazón!

Written by Animsay - you daughter forever!