Legacies

I often wonder what my legacy will be.  Will I matter when I am gone?  How do I accomplish great things, because of these musings, I have gone back to school and graduated.  I continue to look for that elusive thing that will help me make my mark in this world.  That one thing that I am so good at, that others will marvel at my accomplishments and praise me for doing it.

This week I went to funerals of two women, who pretty much were forces in my childhood. The first was my Mother's friend Hayde Hernandez.  This woman was a beauty, as a child I marveled at her and her kids because they were such good looking kids.  As a kid I going to private school, my mom sewed for a living and many of our neighborhood moms went to her for her seamstress abilities.  I always liked this lady, because she was so poised and gracious.  Her kids were nice and they went on to be very helpful in our community.  I always admired that spirit of giving.  They were active in our neighborhood church and are a back bone of what I remember of my neighborhood. 

The second funeral I went to was my sister's mother in law,  Rosa Hernandez she was 101 and I remember when I met her I was only twelve.  Though I knew her son since I was two, I only met her and the rest of the family after my sister married into it.  My childhood was rather painful and lonely at times, my brothers and sisters were all older than me and I was left alone with my ruminative thoughts for hours on end.  I enjoyed reading and discovering other worlds because my world was a little bleak. I remember entering her house for the first time and feeling overwhelmed with love.  My parents weren't very touchy feely, but this family was.  I got hugged at every turn, but not just a little hug, full on bear hugs it was a curious feeling, but I liked it.  I promised myself that I would hug people like that for the rest of my life, because it felt so good and so reassurring. 

Thinking back on the legacies of both of these ladies I realized you don't have to have a prestigious job, or a fancy title to make a difference.  Both these women's legacy is Love, the love they had for their families and their homes.  The differences they made was making everyone feel the same way, loved and important.  They did not worry about making a mark, but they did.  Their marks are deep and wide and more important than any ever made by a celebrity or politician.  Their struggles were many, they came to this country which has always been inhospitable to Latinos, but they not only struggled, but succeeded.  Their children are college graduates, professional people and yet these were humble women.  Women from their time were not given the choice to be able to go to college or school.  Their lives were get married have children, but they did it so well.  Their children, and their children's children will always know about their matriarchs and that they were forces to be reckoned with.

The world is a little less vibrant now, and I know there are deep holes in the lives of my friends.  I only hope they continue to keep alive the spirit of these strong, independent Latina women.  I only hope I can do a fraction of what they accomplished.  RIP Ladies, you will be missed and I will take the lessons you taught me and cherish the moments I spent with you. I will not let your memories fade away from my life.  I will take the torch onward and love my family, cherish the moments of triumph and loss with grace and humility, just like you did.  Thank you for spending time on earth and teaching so many.