On March 20, 2011, my mother passed away. She was an amazing person and I miss her everyday. This is a small speech I wrote and spoke at her mass. It would mean a lot if you took a second to read it.
Elsa.
There are many words I could use to describe her, but none would ever do her justice.
Because my mom was beyond description. Beyond mere words.
I could tell you that
her hair was raven-black,
thick and silky smooth.
I could tell you that
even though her eyes were dark,
they still shone brighter than stars.
Or I could choose to tell you about her unconventional personality, her ability to inspire hope in the darkest situations, and her inability to understand sarcasm. But whatever I chose to tell you will never be enough.
Because Elsa was so much more than all those things combined.
All I can tell you is what Elsa was to me.
To me, she was a loving mother, and an endearing friend.
She was someone I could run to when I was feeling down, and needed a warm embrace or kiss.
She was a person I respected and loved, and was respectec and loved by in return.
She was my motivation, my inspiration, my everything-ation
Yes, to me Elsa was everything and I learned so much from her life.
From all the adventures she told me of, and I experienced with her - like the time in the Chitwan National Reserve in Nepal when we woke up in the middle of the night and stole a green banana- I learned to never be afraid of new situations and to instead take those new situations as opportunities to experience something different and special.
From her long 11 year fight with cancer (or as Maya says 10 years and 11 months, Maya likes to be precise)- I learned to be determined and to keep on fighting to reach my goals and dreams, to never give up.
From her vibrant personality - and knack for moving around the furniture every month- I learned to be unique, to think in new ways, to be unconventional and different from the crowd... and some basic interior design skills.
But most of all, and this is something I learned from her everyday life, I learned the importance of love and a caring smile.
Elsa lived a life full of love.
There was the love she received:
Love from her incredible family,
which is a lot of love if you consider it's ridiculously large size,
I meet a new relative at every family gathering.
Love from all her friends around the world,
which is another unbelievable amount,
since Elsa made friends everywhere she went,
and she went to more places than I can count.
And of course, love from Ze, love from Maya, and love from me.
So ,what did Elsa do with all this love?
She gave it back tenfold.
And this exchange of love, that occured everyday in her life, was evident in her smile.
Elsa knew the importance of a simple, caring smile.
A smile that is full of love is one-of-a-kind, and that's how hers was, one-of-a-kind.
Elsa's smile could light up a room, and win the heart of any person.
I think it's her smile tht I will miss most.
Well, there's a lot more I could go on to tell you about my dear mama, but like I said before, it will never be enough.
Elsa was a very special person, and I;m sure everyone here agrees.
She will always be in my thoughts, in my actions and in my heart.
I will celebrate her wondrous, love filled life forever.
Elsa, I love you.
