You might think it childish but it pondered me for while but I hadnt had the words to describe what I felt.
A few days back one of my post got 67 hits in two hours that was, for a no body like me, a kick off for enormous excitement. I had 5 comments, many “likes”s and many “interesting”s and felt like I got a topic that I could relate with others on. What was very fascinating about it was that I never even intended for it to get that much attention even though the topic was something that have staggered for quite time my intentions was solely to express what I felt and believe. My mind went into cycles to reorder directives that I should read and immerse myself in these topics if it is something that interests my readers but then something hit me. It was that conscious call that happens rarely yet makes you feel like you are being questioned in the witness stand and the question was about recognition: If you are thinking of recognizing others interest how about giving deserved recognition to the people that had great role in your life, recognition to good moments, recognition to the love you felt, the hate you felt, the resentment, the happy and funny moments, the “this is it” moments? I had to give my response to it which made me decide to write about my most valuables that are close to my heart ,the ones I call my pearls of life. So I share the memes about the pearls of my life.
Pearl Number one:
The Lady you just read about at the top, my mom – Konje - is my pearl, just one of her kind.If Webster knew about her definitely the meaning of mother in the dictionary would have been replaced by her picture. She has been everything to me and I mean literally .She has been the father and the mother combined and she was so good at playing both roles that it has never felt real that I ever had a dad. It was when I was 7 years old that tough-times emerged in our life; my mother got fired/laid off from her work with no notice or compensation. Our family at that time was me, my mom and my baby sitter who actually brought her two kids who are technically my brother and sister; since my mom was the only provider of the house our whole life depended on her. She was 38, back then, who had no other experience than her 20 of being Chief Secretary at an export company and who had three children and two adults including herself to feed. At the moment looking for another work became impossible but she was not stressed or seem worried.She exhausted all her savings and we had no family to turn to.Now that I look back at it., everything seem to have a dead end but in all this, the one thing she has is a winning spirit ,she was/is always a winner who never gives up or loses hope easily. A fighter with a big heart
5 months after she lost her job she opened a beauty salon in our home, in the living room with just one hair dryer and two iron scissors.My baby sitter washes the hair and my mom does the rolling and styling and the funny thing is she had no clue on how it is done.My brother put a sign board for the salon and obviously the name was ማ የውበት ሳሎን. Her customers were a bit doubtful of her abilities but never said a word because they were all paralyzed by her incredibly nice personality and charm. She is multi talented and creative person who dared any challenge ,one time her old friend who is my God mother told me that she used to match against men in a boxing flight wearing gloves and everything and that gives a cringe to a chicken like me who does not even have a gut to watch boxing on TV.
10 years passed like that, in which time my mom made hand crafts and made dresses for the women who come to get their hair done. Sometimes they refused to buy the dress they ordered after she spent all her energy and money. She worked at her sister’s coffee factory sorting and pulping coffee beans which she was paid so little that that disappointment nearly broke her strong heart, she prepared berbere and shiro to sale and she even bought 2 bee hives and sold the honey for some time and unluckily the bees flew away. She basically did everything that was out there to be done just to provide food in the table but all this time she managed to send me to school and give that indefinitely unconditional love. She finally won her court case with the company she worked for who had to finally pay her compensation with all the penalties due.
My mom is my hero and my best friend who still fascinates me with her high spirit and big heart and whom I could never pay back but just understand and treasure. I would not have been what I am without her even though I am not proud of what I am or feel like I have given her what she desired for me .She is a person who carried the entire burden and kept me untouched and let me live a prestigious life and after all she has done for me she still feels obligated to kick the damn mosquito for me.
I love you Konje yene enate