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Another year, another year older.  I'm not talking about my age but my mother's, She will be 91 on 4th of July and as she gets older, I face reality and know that I am also getting older.  But what I am seeing is that the older she gets the healthier she becomes.  I hope that also becomes my case!!

A few years back, my mother was very forgetful, couldn't get around to good and under constant supervision.  Now, present day, she remembers everything that happened in her 91 years.  Heck I can't even remember what happened last Tuesday!!

Mother's Day is special because it is her day but let's not forget her birthday and every day of the year.  I don't see her as much as I should because she is now living in San Jose, CA but I try to go up as much as I can and know that she is in good hands with my sister, Lupe, who just became a grandma for the first time a couple of months ago.

Lupe keeps an eye on all the activity that mom does and I sometimes worry because mom is not only very active & popular in her Senior Citizen's Club in San Jose but when we get together, all she wants to do is walk around and dance.  She likes to spin around while dancing cumbias and rancheras.  Our last event, I got tired quicker than she did.  I don't know where she gets her energy.  She goes out and works in her garden and now she claims she has a "novio" at the Senior Citizens.  Another female member is jealous because she claims it's her "novio".  Watch out mom!!

Mom was born in Guadalajara, studied at a convent with nuns, met my father from Durango, married, had 5 kids (I'm the middle one) and migrated to California in 1957.  We moved to Delano in 1959 where she worked out in the fields till 1977 when she and my father moved to San Jose.  By the way, we all participated in the March to Sacramento with Cesar Chavez back when I was 16 yrs. old.  Everyone else followed to San Jose except me.  I remained in Bakersfield, this is my home.

Mom is a Great, Great Grandmother and isn't shy to express what she is thinking and how she feels about you.  "Mijo, cuanto te paseas!, comes' mucho!! Te estas poniendo gordo!!, tu pelo se esta poniendo mas blanco!!,  tu bigote esta muy largo!! Eres tan traviezo!!"  Heh! Heh! She's such a kidder!!!

We always have a blast for 4th of July and celebrate my mother's birthday with a bang.  As a matter of fact, I've spent every 4th of July with mother since she moved up there, except for one year when I was injured as a result of an accident in 1994.  The San Jose skyline lights up with fireworks for my mom.

My mother's children, I'm afraid are getting older, and I'm sure she'll out live everyone.  As long as we're still ticking, we get together as often as we can to be with mom and on this coming Mother's Day, May 13, we'll all try to be together again, God willing.

Yes, Mother's Day is special..... especially for my mother because if she would have become a nun, I wouldn't be here!  What would we do without mother's?  She will always be your mother no matter no matter what kind of person you are and where you live.  Love your mother as much as she loves you and cherish the moments you spend together.

Ama (Refujio "Cuca" Macias Serrano), te quiero mucho y te deseo muchos años mas en nuestras vidas!!  FELICIDADES!!!