The role of mother means many different things to many different people, and being her only child, I saw that for her, it was one of complete devotion and faithfulness. It was the most important job she had, and the one she worked the hardest at. She was a fierce protector who stood up for me whether I was right or wrong, and tried her very best to fix whatever was going on in my life. She always wanted what was best for me, in my personal life, my education, and everything in between. It was why she searched high and low for the very best and safest school for her allergy-inflicted son to attend. It was why she found so many hobbies and activities for me to try out, just hoping that one would stick. It was why she put so much effort into planning trips and excursions to wherever we could go. We might not have been able to travel the globe, but we had some great adventures closer to home. She was on a lifelong mission to cure boredom.
My mother was proud to receive dozens of positive testimonials from her patients over the years. They were her favourite part of her long-standing career in the dental field, first as a technician, for which she helped to start a business, and then, for more than 25 years, a dental hygienist. Determined as she was to become a hygienist, she went back to college as a mature student, in a foreign country – well, the United States, but still – in order to make this her career.
My mother would often relay stories of her days as a young athlete, speeding down mountain slopes or intently dribbling across the basketball court. She was, for a time, determined to learn the piano, and was very pleased when I too picked up the instrument when I was young. So pleased was she with my musical aspirations that she summoned the will to drive me to school for band practice, at 7 am sharp, for three years straight. As I grew up, she took on a number of more leisurely hobbies, both to keep herself busy and to help me prepare for my future at the same time. Her love of reading turned into my own, and people would often ask how she managed to teach me how to read at such a young age. No teaching was required, she would reply, only the act of reading itself. She enjoyed cooking and baking, always eager to whip up something new for her family to try. Most recently, her incredible fondness for gardening was on display, as she spent much of the springs and summers out in the sun making our backyard beautiful and full of sustenance.
She was a stickler for tradition when it came to the major holidays, by which I mean the most kid-friendly ones. Every Halloween arrived with increasingly complex pumpkin carving designs and far too much candy to give out to our quiet neighbourhood; Easter granted me every variety of Marshmallow Peeps that you could imagine. But Christmas was the most important of all. She loved finding new tree ornaments and yuletide figurines for the house – it would eventually take days to put it all up every December. She was always the host on Christmas Eve, inviting friends and neighbours over for a classic turkey dinner with all the fixings. And, of course, she appreciated what it all meant to me, and the positive memories that Christmas brought. In fact, it is the reason she chose my name, as I was born so close to the holiday.
Above all else, I think that my mother will be remembered for her dedication to, and the personal sacrifices she made for, the people she cared about. This is apparent when you consider her role as a mother, putting her career aspirations on hold to raise and care for me until I was ready, and not a moment sooner. It is apparent in everything that she did for her colleagues, friends and family whenever they were down or needed help. And it is apparent in one particular selfless deed that she completed while she was studying in Ohio. She was staying in a hotel and devoting nearly all of her time to her studies. While she was there, she got to know one of the cleaning staff. Having mentioned that she was there to become a dental hygienist, the woman stated that she needed a dental procedure done, but was unsure of how she would be able to afford it. So, in order to ease the stress of this minor acquaintance, my mother decided to give her the money she needed, with no strings attached and no expectation of getting it back. This truly goes to show just how compassionate and generous she could be.
She would not want us to be sorrowful that she is gone, but instead to remember the times that each of us had with her – the laughs, the advice, and the good memories. I know I will. Rest easy, mom. I will miss you dearly, but I’m glad that you are at peace. Thank you for everything.
