<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Don’t forget to call your Mom!</span></p>
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<p> Mamita used to sing that song to me when I was a little girl, soothing me to sleep with her beautiful, melodic voice.</p>
<p> When Alzheimer’s disease took hold of this beautiful, classy, intelligent woman’s mind, sending her back to her childhood, I began singing those beautiful words written by Mexican composer Maria Grever, to her. How ironic that the song asks “tell me if you remember me as I remember you.” I’m not certain Mamita remembered I was her daughter during the last few months of her life.</p>
<p> Although she never stopped calling me “Bibicita” (my nickname) she once said I was so nice, she’d wish we were sisters.</p>
<p> What goes on in the mind of a person afflicted with this horrible curse of a disease? I don’t know. But I have to believe that somewhere in the labyrinth of confusion their soul still resides. Anyone who has been close to an Alzheimer’s patient will tell you that even when the end is near, they will have some moments of lucidity…. and you just never know when that will be or how long it will last. I don’t know what’s worse – not having your loved one’s mind present at all, or having them for just a few moments, when they realize something is terribly wrong!</p>
<p> My beloved Papito believed that we choose our parents, our family, and our friends, before we are even born, according to the lessons we need to learn in this lifetime. If that is the case, I chose my father and mother very well!</p>
<p> Of course life was not “Ozzie and Harriett” all the time. Being human my parents were not perfect and I was most certainly not the perfect child! But my parents instilled in me all the right principles: love of God, respect for others, gratitude, humility, and respect for them; even when I was angry.</p>
<p> The last few years of my parents’ lives were very difficult. None the less I miss them terribly! Mother’s Day is particularly hard. Here’s my advice and request for you: if you’re lucky to still have your Mom, don’t wait until Mother’s Day to let her know how much you love her and what she means to you. If for whatever reason you’re estranged from her, find a way to fix that relationship before it’s too late. Remember, time flies whether you’re having fun or not and the day will come when you will join the ranks of those of us who only have memories of Mother’s Days past.</p>
<p> Remember: your Mom is your mother every day, not just on Mother’s Day!</p>
<p> Happy Mother’s Day in heaven Mamita, mi muñequita linda!</p>
<p><em>Edie J. is the author of “My Yiddishe Grandma”; she’s a voice over artist and public speaker. She and husband Neal live in Valley Glen with their 5 dogs, 4 cats, 3 birds, 2 frogs, 2 turtles, and a baby chimp. Reprinted from <a href="http://LatinoLA.com">LatinoLA.com</a></em></p>