Casa Mama
It's been nearly four years since I have
visited my Mom's home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. If her soul wasn't
here – she couldn't be here. An outpour of tears of memories: The sweetness of a lady
backed by her strength and stiffness when it came to pouring Cabo margaritas.
Laughter, sadness; Thinking - it had all come to an end; it was time
for closure, my time to say good bye.
Her Property Manager, Mike, picked me
up from the airport. I had never met him before but my Dad said Mike
would recognize me because he's met Gale.
My eyes swelled up, stuttering with
words on how much I missed her and and Mike said, “It's not like
that. You have nothing to worry about. When you get to the house
you'll see.”
Mike changed the subject and, giving me
a refresher course on Cabo, including the proper way to bribe a
policeman, the basics, and how to pronounce where I was staying in
Spanish. 51-a Santa Carmela "sink-kwen-tah-ee oo-no ah, Santa Carmella”. He's right in the
importance of all this- I remember, at my 30th birthday
party, when my friend Sam didn't have that lesson. He pointed with
his hand, blitzed, while blabbing English for two hours; we're
still all surprised he ever made it home.
The fridge is stocked with beer. Check!
What if I get in trouble? Mike reminded me “Well, I am like your surrogate father
while you're here.” My Mom was rebellious.
Natural, candid conversations, Mike
praised both my Mom and Dad as remarkable and generous individuals
he's known for years. The guards welcomingly waved us into the
Santa Carmela development with a smile; – a smile is universal for
love.
The fear I had of emotions of despair,
quickly changed to a feeling of encouragement, support, and love...
and rebellion.
In my Mom's legacy, I'm short for words
to explain her – I don't have all the words - even the brightest,
most intelligent individual can't explain her beautiful silence that
inspired so many. Her Cabo house is her living legacy - as I lie in
her bed, drinking some wine; I can only think that she is still here
smiling. It's the most comforting feeling I have experienced in my
life. The tears I expected turned to cheers of her life; and the
peace and love she often promoted is filled within my heart.
She left this house to be happy – she
got it. Filled with drinks – she got it. Filled with drunks –
she got that too. She's laughing – they're laughing – everyone's
laughing. Dancing – she's dancing too – and singing! My Mom's
still here – laughing, singing, dancing, and maybe that's why my
Dad can't let her go. I can't; and won't either.
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| "What did we do last night?" "Let me show you!" |
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| Tia, don't buy a timeshare. Don't do it - you've been warned! |
