Happy Re-Birthday Mom!!!

Mom with Guest during Christmas




Mom in Puerto Rico



Mom in Tennessee

My mom was born in Puerto Rico. She is the youngest of nine sisters (only 6 made it to adulthood). My uncle is number ten and the only boy. She was raised in a time that you chose a career to study and did not have so many majors and choices. She decided to become an nurse.

I am very proud of her. Now that I am older I get to hear the stories of when she was younger from her friends. There are many adventures that I was surprised to hear about. Now I understand where I get some of my "instigator", need to care for people and practice charity characteristics/examples from.

Mom's first time ever off the island was to attend The Nursing School at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee. Now, this was in the 1950's.....Can you imagine? A Puertorican in Tennessee in the 50's?! She was quickly accepted and made a good group of friends, some of which we still see and hear from.

So, she arrives in Tennessee in the Fall. There is a reception for the new students. What does she do? She puts on her best dress and heels. How do you find her in the sea of women dressed in black, gray, and brown? Easily, she wore a bright pink dress with the matching high heels. Needless to say, she did make an impression. Her comment is "Well, we don't have the change of seasons in Puerto Rico." ( I guess I also get the "I'll wear what I wanna" gene from her too.)

Mom did learn the rules of fashion, but has always worn colors. After my father passed away in the summer of 2000 (after 43 years of marriage, not including the courtship), she went into a deep mourning. For the next few years, she wore only black, gray, white and the occasional dark blue. She did continue working and is still working administering immunizations for the Health Department.

I am very glad to say that in the last year and a half, she has blossomed again. She has gone from a size 16 to a size 10 and has burst into all kinds of colors (including shoes, purses, jewelry and any kind of acceptable accessory). My sis, cousins and friends look at her and see her more alive than she's been in awhile. She really enjoys entertaining friends and family at the house. During Christmas when I was in a slump, she greeted people at the door with marracas, a guiro and tambourine and made them sing and dance before entering the house. So today, Mom, I am wishing you a Happy re-birthday! Love ya!