A Mother’s Love

By Cindy Gomez
Editor

No one will ever love you as much as your mother. At least that’s what my mom always told me.

And there is definitely something amazing about a mother’s love. Something that is able to transcend any other form of love we experience, and which we compare all other forms of love to.

That selfless put-you-first-before-themselves kind of love that mothers give without thinking, is the way we all aspire to love and be loved. In Mexican culture, the matriarchal ties are strong. The worst insult that can be logged against you involves insulting your mother. The word for disaster, “desmadre,” literally means “without mother.” And the thought of what my mother has done for me, and what my life would be like without her is devastating.

My mother, Ventura, made incredible sacrifices throughout her life for my brothers and I. As the youngest of 12 children (of whom only six survived) she was the only one to complete an education, even going on to college once she came to the U.S—a task she accomplished while raising three kids and working a full-time job.

In Mexico she lived in incredible poverty; backbreaking work and anemia were constant childhood companions. Her mother, my grandmother Trinidad, never had the opportunity to become educated. Perhaps that is why she and my mother valued an education so highly. Trinidad never learned to read or write and spent her entire life trying to eke out an existence and keep food on the table—and the table itself.

My mother had to work from the age of eight as a live-in servant, which she did until she met my father and married. Her dreams for higher education and independence gave way to family and security. Though neither of my parents spoke English when they first arrived, my mother was always involved in helping me succeed academically and develop socially. When you looked into her eyes you could see the hopes she had for her children, even as she watched her own dreams slipping away. 

Perhaps those hopes and dreams that mothers foster for the future of children is what makes them so amazing. When Mother’s Day comes around, we all remember the love of our beloved mothers, and the sacrifices they made to raise us.

They are our greatest allies, our biggest cheerleaders, our strongest supporters, and the solace we seek most when we’re in pain.

As a mother myself, all I want for Mother’s Day is to spend time with my children and family, enjoying each other. As a child, I feel compelled to make sure my mother feels the deep love and admiration that I have for her. Flowers, dinners, cards, and candy just don’t seem able to convey the love we feel for our mothers, but they are a good start. Breakfast in bed, lilies, Yo-Yo and Hoops card, Lindor Truffles and a day with my loved ones…yep, that about covers it for me.

Best Bets 2010

By the end of yesterday, May 5, nominations online for Best Bets 2010 closed, wrapping up Round 1 of this year’s contest. We are happy to report that a record number of HPR readers participated in the nomination process, an estimated 1,500 individuals casting their votes.

Beginning next Thursday, May 13, everyone will get to vote on one of four finalists for each of the 80 categories. We will print a ballot online once and encourage others to vote online at hpr1.com or on HPR’s Facebook page. This will go much faster as the voting will be multiple choice, not writing in answers for each category.

We will be tabulating results this weekend. It will be fun to see what our readers have to say. Then, when it’s all said and done, we’ll have a special edition of HPR focusing on the Best Bets 2010. It promises to be a keeper issue

Maintenance and May Birthdays

We love to hear from our readers. A quick reminder for those writing letters to the editor. Letters run about 500 words maximum, so please keep that in mind when sending us your thoughts. We are also always looking for talented writers to develop their skills at the HPR. We ask only that you send a sample of your writing and topics you are interested in to the editor for review. Keep ‘em coming!

Happy May birthdays to the following:  Marc Johnson, Danette Nickeloff, Kelly Smith, Genevieve Thompson, Colt Bergeron, Lindy Bixby, Sean Thorfinnson, Naomi Nakamoto, Phyllis Spooner, Karen Nitzskorski, Jeff Poitra, Scot Kelsh, Dean Hulse, Kim Mahli, Bud Sinner, Chris Jacobs, Anita Morgan, Jeff Kleven, Rob Mihelich, Megan Gette, Rob Hurrell, Jon Johnson, Britta Trenbeath, Mike Strand, Matt Enke, Ann Hunter, Margaret Strand-Thorfinnson, Jodi Stenvig, Stacy Strand, Gary Score, Gail Norland, David R. Graham, Dick Dolan, Travis Toliver, Sam Christikawa, Toni Thordarson, Janeen Kobrinsky, Katie McCleery, Jim Mihelich, Sham Dolce, Rick Dietz, John Aventi, Rosemarie Myrdal, Donna Adams, Michael Miller, Kathleen McMerty, Kristin Rudrud, Susan David, Nicole Hofer, Ed Jasek, Dave Mahar, Kit Miles, Robin Nelson, Pete Herrera, Tony Holter, Sharon Wermedahl, Renee Danz, Tim Vo, Rudy Sigmund, Roger Stiner, John T. Wesley, and John T. Goff.

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