A few months ago, I started a blog on behalf of my father and today as we approach June 6th, I dedicate this site to my mother. Okay she is not really turning 42, but that's what she always used to say. For some reason, mom did not age from around the time she gave birth to me to now. She had me fooled.
Why this particular background for the blog? If you know my mother, you know that every year she has completed a NCAA bracket. She can talk basketball with the best of them and is clearly a march madness mother. I felt the bracket background along with the basketball was fitting, at least initially. Not to mention, that my mom has attended approximately 931 basketball games between myself and my siblings high school and college careers. This does not count for MJ's NBA career nor does it account for all the football, soccer, baseball, volleyball games and violin recitals. All in all I suspect the number is more between 5-10 thousand sporting and musical events. Mom has always been our biggest fan. She would express her approval with a fierce flexion at the elbow, pulled in abruptly to her side with a closed fist. When she would do this action and shout "YES!" We knew we met her approval. In recitals, it was different, the congratulations would always come first with a smile, grab of both sides of the head and a big kiss. Mom earned the right to be the biggest fan. She was there through the training. She was there half-way between "Hell's week" football practices with a carb filled lunch and large Gatorade. She was there to nurse the injuries. She was there to encourage the downtrodden. She was there pushing the piano over and over again. She was there in all of our times of need.
Why the title? Mama Jefe was her real name. Now, some might know that the correct gender assignment of this spanish name is Mama Jefa. But she referred to herself as Mama Jefe and it stuck. She is the biological mother of 5 children. However, there are countless people who refer to her as their mother or second mother. My friends growing up would come to the house many times just to talk basketball or life with Mom. I would come home from school and sometimes find classmates visiting with mom. They loved her. She knew how to talk to teenagers. She knew there interests, families and difficulties. She comforted them and educated them. If I were to play ball with friends they always elected to come to my house to play not because I lived on a cul de sac where the ball would not get lost or threatened by traffic, nor because the hoop could lower and raise in a time when such a hoop was scarce. They came because Mama Jefe would make them fresh pizza and drinks and take care of them as if they were her own. She would greet them with a hug, call them by name and tell them things like, "Hey, Dylan, that was great shootin' last night" or "Lydell, nice game!" My friends loved that and loved her. She was also Mama Jefe because I never wanted to displease her. She was the boss of the house and because of who she was and the righteous, respected life she lived we wanted to do what she said.
Why the blog? People have got to know this woman. I have to share with the world how amazing she is. The world needs to know the life that she has lived. I hope it is not only perspective that is shared but many because I know that mine is not the only life she has touched. I will take this opportunity to share a few such experiences. As I mentioned above, my mom's birthday is June 6th. I have a confession to make regarding my ability to remember her birthday. I know I should remember it because it belongs to her but I actually remember it because she made me feel growing up that it belonged to me. On June 6th, just about every year, we would have a blast day. I had the privilege of having her to myself as there was an almost 10 year gap between me and my other four siblings, so it is possible they did not experience this day like I did, but I don't really care. A blast day consisted of getting out of school for "Important Family Business" and going to Disneyland just me and her. We would hop in the car, drive down near the elementary school and my mom would ask me to duck as we drove by. As we neared the amusement park, she would have me search for the Matterhorn Mountain. In the park the day would start off by riding Thunder Mountain over and over and over again. Then we would get an Apple Fritter over by the New Orleans Train Depot, ride Pirate's of the Caribbean and then Thunder Mountain over and over again. This would be followed by running in and out of the caves at Tom Sawyer island and then Thunder Mountain again. We would end the day with an ice cream on Main Street and walk out hand in hand having made another sweet memory. I don't know the year, I finally realized, I did not have two birthday's. My mom always made me a priority. She sacrificed so much in her life to be available to assist me in my interests. She could have easily pursued a career in nursing and we probably could have enjoyed a few extra dollars but she chose to be at the crossroads of my life and I owe her so much for that.
Mom, happy birthday. I plan on writing my heart out to help you realize what an amazing person you are the grand life you have lived. Thank you and happy birthday with love, Borks
