Familia: “Help! I Lost My Mami!”

My mother is like any other mother in that she is caring, overbearing at times and manages to call me at least five times a day. But I think today’s entry should be dedicated to her because without her I probably wouldn’t be who I am today. And I sure do love me.

Everyone has his or her faults; unfortunately my mom’s has always been being quite forgetful.

When I was about ten years old she took me to the mall, one of our weekly rituals (this explains my shopaholicism). We were in the now extinct Stern’s of Newport Centre Mall and of course without notice I decided to wander off. Five minutes went by and I had her in sight. Ten minutes went by and I was sure she was right down the aisle still shopping. Fifthteen minutes go by and then I realized she wasn’t around. So I started trekking through Stern’s looking for her but I couldn’t find her. She couldn’t have gone too far since I came with her, right? Wrong! She left.

I waited and waited and finally about a half and hour later she comes back screaming my name, “Yulissa! Yulissa! Donde estas?” and I come running down the aisle crying my little eyes out.

“Mami, where did you go? Why did you leave without me?” was all I managed to mumble. And she responded, “Ay dios mio, I forgot you came with me, I left the mall thinking you were at home and then half way there I realized I left you! I’m so sorry! It will never happen again.”

My mother actually left the mall and forgot I came with her. You can only imagine the repercussions this event has had on my life. I was traumatized. Anytime after that, I would walk right next to my mother and continuously remind her that she came with me and that she couldn’t leave without me. Her eyes rolled as if she were saying, “I know, I know.” But I know deep down inside she wished I would have forgotten about the whole thing. I didn’t. But at least now I can laugh about it.