To Mama

Mama always said she was going to live till she was 100,

After all, she had no time to die before that - there was so much left for her to do.

She had plans to travel the world, and experience new places with dad,

spend hot summer days in a cabin by the Scandinavian mountains,

and mild winters in Mallorca.

She was supposed to join me at diplomatic parties when I got older,

and escort my brother to football galas,

because as she said to him:

"Don't forget, it was me who drove you to your first football match.”

She was to have a small house by the seaside and an apartment in the city,

paid for by me and my sibling, as a sign of our gratitude for the excellent job she did raising us.

There was always so much to look forward to.

But at the same time, my mother managed to do something that not many others are able to do.

Because despite the fact that there was so much she still had to accomplish,

She lived a life full of so much already.

She was proud of all the roles she had.

It was always great to be a cousin, an aunt, sister, and a daughter. Possibly the best was being a mom.

She was good at everything she did, because everything she did, she did with pride.

In recent weeks, I have received messages of condolence from people who were part of all eras of my mother's life,

common to all of them is the memory of mum: a strong lady, with a lively smile, who was impossible not to be fond of.

For those of you who had the opportunity to visit us in Spain, this is probably a big part of how you remember mum:

Sitting on the terrace in Costa d'en Blenes, coffee cup in hand, and a bowl of pistachios on the table.

Everyone remembers her nails, in a deep red burgundy color, with lovely rings and bracelets that jingled.

She wore pitch-black eyeliner and red lipstick, and with these simple things she always took the room by storm.

She was nosy, and loved to travel. 

Here I am perhaps a little too like her, and despite the fact that she always said she wished I could stay at home with her forever,she was the first person to help me pack, drive me to the airport, and made sure that I was aware that the whole world was waiting for me

I am grateful for all versions of my mother that I got to meet. I got a stay-at-home mum, who was always available, a stay-at-home mum who drove us to school and picked us up in the afternoon, they did absolutely everything with us, and for us.

I also got to see the hard-working side of my mother, who got up early to go to work, who traveled to exciting places to have meetings with important people, and who loved her job but still did everything for us, and with us.

She taught me that as a woman, I can be both soft and warm, and at the same time strong and respected.

Mum has always been my biggest role model. She was fearless, and lived life every single day. I really hope that I can grow up to be just like you, Mom.

We could never have asked for a better mom.

I once read about a wise man who said that you live as long as your memories. In these times, I like to think that this is how mum will live to be 100 years old.

We love you deeply and miss you every day.