Nanay: the wind beneath my wings

I will always remember nanay with her kind and smiling eyes. She was a person who would make the first step to make people at home. She had many friends because of her kindness and thoughtfulness. Birthdays and important occasions were always remembered by her.

I have to confess that I haven't really shown nanay how much I appreciate her in my life. Do I regret that? Yes, I do. But somehow I have a feeling that nanay, with her very generous heart, read even my simple words and gestures as signs of appreciation.

I've never really had heart-to-heart talks with nanay. Our life was simple and day-to-day struggles were dealt with in undramatic ways.

Being the eldest, I sort of looked up to my father in terms of taking on responsibilities and preparing for my future, but nanay never felt left out. She understood.

I couldn't say that nanay was a woman of few words, because she liked to talk a lot, and that was one of her endearing qualities. But her words were simple, the stuff of everyday conversation. It was her way of reaching out to people, not of showing off. So I couldn't really remember any particular phrase or expression that I could consider her "testament".

Nanay's testament to me is her letting go, her everyday gestures of allowing others to shine. She was the wind beneath my wings.

Happy mothers' day, nanay. I really, really miss you.