As I rode the bus today to the Mall, I remembered once again how truly lucky I am in life. Looking out the window, admiring the now-familiar architecture and faces of this city, the temperature, the accents, the Spanish moss. How lucky I am that that one fateful Monday Morning in July of 2002 my life changed for good. I was given the amazing opportunity to come to the United States and step a little closer to all those dreams my mother strived to achieve, but never had the means or support to do so.
I am 23 years old and I’m living the life many can only dream of. I sure dreamt it countless of times, but I also worked for it. I wasn’t just content with the bittersweet aftertaste of the dream, staring at the ceiling and dreading to step off that bed. Despite the comfort of the cold sheets, I got my feet out and walked, nay, ran towards that dream. Everything I encountered was so confusing but exhillirating as well. Then found out runnin’ makes you really tired, so I turned my heels back to that comfy, appealing bed. Only to realize it was gone and so was the comfort.
So I needed to move on again. Just keep on runnin’. Stop every now and then to smell (or rather, photograph) the pink Magnolias, to say How y’all doin’, to organize a craft fair, to inspire others with it, to laugh, to eat, to call back home, to write letters, to use and abuse the Vandercook press, to admire how with every turn of my bike’s wheels the puzzles of my future fall into place, providing a steady ground for me to keep on movin’, to keep on dreamin’.
And I don’t ever want to stop.
I’m doing this all for Mami. Unfortunately, her generation never had the support that we lavish in. Times were just too rough back then. So we are her escape, the host for her to live vicariously through. I can only hope me and my brother continue to make her proud forever and ever.
Thank you everybody who has somehow bothered to read my little blog of love. I have thoroughly enjoyed your kind comments, especially those times when I was not quite feeling myself. Y’all are also a daily healthy dose of creativity, laughter and insight, and I appreciate it lots. Thanks to my Lolita who checks my blog every day and has never doubted my talent (even though I do most of the time). Thanks to my Puchungoto who’s just simply adorable and that’s all he needs to be. Thanks to Arnaldo who refuses to comment directly through the blog, but always cyber-high-fives me thru MSN. And neverending thanks to Him, because without Him I wouldn’t have the strength to keep on runnin’.
