A Moment With My Mother

​Parents are one of the most beautiful things that could happen to anyone. They are always there by your side no matter what; they always want the best for their children. They can be strict and protective, its because they love their kids and they don’t want them to get hurt. My parents are special to me because with all the hard time that they had to have me and my siblings in their life they still fought for us and didn’t give up, even after 17 years of trying. But for me? The greatest of all is my mom. She is the one that I look up too. She is the greatest of all. Simple, funny, strict, protective, but yet she is the best.

I sat down to write this eulogy the weekend before my mother died. I was in a chair next to her bed, keeping her company as she dozed. Initially, I thought this would be the hardest thing I would ever write. But the truth is, as I watched her sleep, I took comfort in knowing she was lost in a dream-world instead of plagued by her dark reality—and the words poured out of me like I too was lost in a world of dreams. Dreams that brought me back to the imaginary games we played when I was just a kid, secrets confided between a mother & dauggter, lessons learned, I love you”s exchanged, her beaming pride, our friendship, arguments that exhausted both of us, and the reconciliations that always brought us back together.

My mother is mestiza, my father is mestizo, my brother is mestizo, my tias, my tios, as am I. All mestizos. I’ve been told I am worthy of praise because I carry your language on my tongue without an accent, because I had an American education, because I can recite allegiance to your country. I am told I am worthy because I could assimilate to the culture, unlike my parents. I am often presented with shocked faces when I speak my second language, English, faces that always tell me that they would have never guessed I spoke so perfectly, thinking they’d have to work twice as hard to understand my heavy, foreign accent—the same accent my parents have. On top of that, I am the color of the sun reigning on my skin. I found from my 17 years here, it does not matter whether you are the color of milk or whether I speak English without an accent, the moment I speak Spanish and invite someone outside of my culture into my home and they notice I have Caso Cerrado on TV or see my mother swinging her hips to Vicente Fernandez, I am no longer White to them or “an insider.” I am other, an outsider. A “dangerous” outsider. “Ni de aqui, ni de aca.” “Ni de aqui,” not White enough, deemed too Mexican. “Ni de aca,” not Mexican enough, mestiza, and too whitewashed.

In one’s life, there are many core memories that make up who a person is and many life changing events or people that help shape your identity. At the time, one might not realize how much someone changed their life, or how an event completely changed them as a person, but in the end, one will be truly grateful for the events and people who helped them become who they are; just as I am. The day I met my best friend changed a lot of aspects of my life and helped shape my identity. We met at basketball practice over Thanksgiving break this past year, and we had never talked before because I was scared that I would not be funny enough or she would think I was not popular enough. Then, one day we were in the middle of a drill and I decided step

t was the moment I had been waiting months for. The comforting aromas of bread and tea met my nose the instant I stepped through the doorway. Beautifully-written, thought-provoking books sat on the shelves, waiting to be read while soft strains of celtic lullabies floated through the halls. Excitedly, I bolted up the entryway steps to the arms of some of the most meaningful people in my life- Bumma and Boppy.

It was a cold winter day five days after Christmas when I have watched my mom pass away and there then at that moment, a flag was risen with my dad by my side and all my family members there for each other as a speech was given. Then at that moment as I was in tears I got to thinking what is our future going to be like later on in life?And how American History is going to change throughout our lives.

You were alive for 19 years of my life, but I only had you for 16 to 17 years of my life. While you there psychically, you were not there mentally or emotionally. I spent my entire life being my own cheerleader. You couldn’t provide me with the type of support I needed. You never could and in the end, you never did. I spent my entire childhood being a mini adult. I spent it being a parent to myself, my siblings and to you; my own mother.

How is the title of the story related to Mama's epiphany at the end of the story? What is that epiphany?

My mom was the tenth child of Horace and Martha Jackson. Many don't know that she was one of the teachers at the Polar Hill School. I don't know much about those days (Mom wasn't much of a talker). Although she didn't talk much her actions were outstanding.

Death never seemed to faze me. After all, death is part of our life cycle so I often disregarded it – thinking nothing of it and not anticipating when or what it will ensue.

I just want you to know that you are the greatest and strongest woman I know and love. Mom, you are an amazing woman and I don’t know how you manage to balance everything in life, but in my eyes, you balance everything so well. I felt like you deserved to hear this because I never knew how proud you were of me until I heard your co-workers tell me about how you talk their heads off about me. I’m glad that you are so proud of me because it means so much to me. I know I have made some mistakes in the past that disappointed you, but it so great to hear that you are actually proud of me. Most importantly, I am proud of you mom. You are taking the steps to receive your Ph.D., and I hope the Lord blesses you every step of the way. I can’t

It’s a funny story that my mom always brings up. When I was about 2 or 3 years old we were sitting at the dining room table eating and I had a piece of ribs stuck in my teeth that I couldn’t get out. So my Granny popped her dentures out and said “Here Tank, you can use mine”. That’s disgusting but funny because I said “Unun Granny, I have my own”, and pointed at my teeth. I was something else. My mother went into labor on Christmas day. It was at about 10:30 pm. She sat home waiting on my father to bring her food. My granny didn’t cook for the holiday because my mother’s due date was so close. She was in pain later so my granny took her to the hospital, and she spent hours in labor. She went into the hospital around 11pm and didn’t have me

As a high school math teacher, I am having rewarding experiences educating and motivating students, but it is not my true calling. I want to positively affect a wider scope of the public and do so in a way that can improve and potentially save lives. The medical field is the best option to fulfill this desire and becoming a physician's assistant has become my new passion. The aspects of the profession that most attract me are its rewarding nature and its fascinating and diverse content. Due to my experiences as an educator and professional football player, and to my intelligence and compassion, I am confident I would be an excellent physician's assistant. While shadowing a physician's assistant in an orthopedic practice, I met a patient, Diane, whose story solidified my commitment to becoming a PA. Seven months prior, Diane was on the verge of becoming a diabetic due to her obesity, but was unable to lose weight due to a poor diet and an arthritic knee that prevented her from exercising. The physician's assistant at Diane's family practice sent her to a dietician to improve her nutrition, and to an orthopedic center, where another physician's assistant gave her a series of Synvisc shots to relieve the pain in her knee. When I met Diane, she lost 42 pounds and, consequently, she would likely be approved for a knee replacement surgery that would allow her to continue her remarkable turnaround. The ability to work in diverse fields, such as a family

What can one say about their mother? One may talk about her positive and negative

A mother is someone who can take the place of all others but no one can take the place of her. There are many different definitions you could use to describe your mother. My mother, Pam Krull, fits every one of those. Today I decided to pick the three that I thought was most important to me. I admire and aspire to be like my mother because of how supportive, how selfless, and how loving she is.