Today, as the world continues to turn and life moves forward, my heart carries the weight of a bittersweet celebration. It would have been my mother's 60th birthday, a milestone that, in some alternate reality, we might have been celebrating together. Yet, as I close my eyes, I can hardly believe it has been a decade since I last saw her.
Last December marked ten long years since her passing — a decade of moments lived without her comforting presence. Ten years since she witnessed the person I have become. I find myself wishing, even after all this time, that she could have met the love of my life, my husband Yousef.
I imagine her smile, the warmth in her eyes, and the pride that would have shone through as she embraced the choices I've made. Today, I believe she would be the happiest, knowing that I have built a life that reflects the values she instilled in me. I wish she were here to witness the happiness that surrounds me, to share in the joy that has become my reality.
Every milestone in my life, every triumph, and every new experience is tinged with the echo of her absence. In my travels, as I explore new places and savor delicious foods, I can't help but feel her spirit beside me. I wish she could taste the flavors I taste, see the sights I see, and feel the joy I feel. Oh, Mama, how I miss you every day.
I find solace in the knowledge that the life I lead is one she would have wished for me. I've ventured to places she once dreamed of visiting, creating memories that I wish she could have shared. As I navigate this journey, I carry her memory in my heart, hoping that somehow, she is aware of the life I've built in her absence.
Today, on what would have been her 60th birthday, I choose to celebrate the woman who shaped me, the one who filled my life with love and wisdom. I will live each day with the determination to make her proud, creating a life filled with peace, kindness, and happiness — values she held dear.
Happy Birthday, Mama. Your presence may be missed, but your spirit lives on in the choices I make and the life I lead. Here's to you, the guiding light in my heart, forever and always.
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