Moises.

       My mother is my rock.  I’m not ashamed to say this.  I have always been, will always be… a mama’s boy.  I owe absolutely everything to this woman.  Lourdes Martinez Padilla, if I could give you the world, I would.  You deserve it and so much more.  Even if i could give you the world’s most breathtaking treasures, I’d come up short.  Nothing in this world could repay my debt to you.  You made me the man I am today.  I take enormous pride in that.  I hold my head up high when I speak about you.  You may not think of yourself very highly Mom but I see you for who you really are.  A spectacular human being who’s capacity for love is infinite.  

   Some may have just seen a little girl back then… one wispy, frail little preteen  in a family with 10 siblings.  I see what you really were…  A brave young woman who took to the needle and thread to help support her family when her father died young.  A bright young girl who gave up scholarships in order to work full time.  Even back then, you were putting your family before yourself.  

    At the age of 22 some may have seen you as a foolish girl in love running away from home.  I see a woman that fell so deeply in love , that she gave up everything she knew to start a new life and a family of her own.  Far from the country and family that saw you grow up, you managed to take everything you learned to apply it to your own family.  

   As an adult, some people may only see a another non-english speaking woman who works too hard at a McDonalds to help support her family.    I see a woman who when times got hard, and dad couldn’t do it on his own… went to work.  Not really knowing the language and having been out of the workforce for years you took whatever work was available.  When your children were embarrassed to tell people where their mother worked, you taught them that there is no shame in work.  Honest work.  Despite working full time, your presence was always felt.  Your lessons engraved in our hearts.  You got it right mom.  Some people may just see three kids that were raised in the ghetto with the odds stacked against them.  I see three amazing, respectful, hardworking adults.  Adults who treat others the way they want to be treated.  Who follow their hearts and their dreams.  Who despite having always lived in the ghetto, the ghetto never lived in them.  Who’s main focus is making their parents proud because they took the time to raise them right.    Thank you Madre.  

My mother is a queen and these are the lessons that shaped the man who stands before you. 

• Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you exactly who you are.
• There is no shame in honest work
• Love your parents while they’re around because they’re made of flesh and bone.
• You can’t take your possessions to the grave so don’t make your life about acquiring material things.  
• Don’t do innocent things that make you look guilty and hurt the ones you love.
• Never forget where you came from.
• family first.
• You can tell a lot about a person from the way they treat their parents.
• Even when you don’t have much to say, when you speak….. speak with conviction.
• make every moment count because your days are numbered.  
• When you find love, make it last.
• Never be ashamed of who you are because what other people think doesn’t matter.
• Don’t ever underestimate the impact you have on other peoples lives.