Mami Te Quiero

by L

My mom was never in the picture.  I seen her three times.  First, when I was born.  Second, when my grandpa died, and third, when my sister graduated high school.  She ain’t my mom, though!  

My mom aka my aunt said, “A mom is not a woman gave birth to you, it’s the woman who raised you.”  That’s always going to stay with me.  I love her.  

It’s going to be hard to spend Mother’s Day here and not with her.  I missed her birthday because I was locked up.  Remember the first time, I got locked up, she visited me once.  

She said, “You get locked up again, I ain’t gon’ visit you.”  I said, “Why?”  She said, “Because I don’t want to see you here, it hurts me.  This is not a place for you.”  

I call her every chance I get.  That’s the only woman who’s made the biggest impact in my life.  I called her yesterday and asked her to visit me.  She said the same thing.  

She also said, “Let’s see how long you last when you get released.”  I said, “Damn, Ma, that’s mean.”  She said, “It ain’t mean, it’s the truth.”  I rarely fight with my mom.  

I can’t get mad at her.  I can’t get mad at a woman who spent years, love, money, time, on me.  She loves me, I love her.  Her daughter and son are my brother and sister.  

And their kids are my niece and nephew.  I love them as my kids.  I swear they’re everything to me.  I remember spending all my summers with them.  

Like she would pay for my tickets for Arizona to California and California to Arizona.  She paid for my luggage.  She gave me a quince.  She paid for all of it.  

My dad (my real dad) didn’t even show up.  I cried a little, so my uncle danced with me.  I cried a little.  It was great.  I never ever want to disappoint her.  

I want to make her very proud of me.  So, this time when I get out, I want to work on my school credits.  Also, work or getting a job, well, two jobs.  My first paycheck is going to my mom.  

If she says no, I’ll buy her a Jesus piece or pay the rent.  She deserves it.  She deserves the world and more.  She’s my mama.  I love her, I would die for her.  Happy Mother’s Day, Ma!