Entry # 21 Mother's Day

‘Ma’! Happy Mother’s Day! How’s everything in Chile? Is it cold yet?’
‘Manolete, everything is great. How nice it is to hear from you. Thanks for the call my love. How is everything in Bogota?’
I called my mother to congratulate her for Mother’s Day. It seemed she was having fun. Everything was great, winter had arrived with very low temperatures, but, according to my mamma, not as cold as last year, since last year it had snowed all round the city which is very rare. For my mamma, it is a very fun season because she has to change all her wardrobe and because the city looks different and everything seem very strange for her, since she is from Cartagena, Colombia, as me. We are used to hot and moist weather, we enjoyed last winter in Chile with the companionship of my brothers and one of our cousins, Veronica.
‘Did you speak to your grandmother? Did you congratulate her already?’
‘No, ma’, I’ll call her right after we hang up. Did you speak to her?’
‘Yes, Manolete, of course I did.’
Every time I speak to my mom she gives us tons of instructions. “Do this, do that, pay this, pay that, call this guy, call that guy, ask this guy this, ask that guy that, I think you’re sick, Manolete, go to the doctor”
‘But, mom, I’m not sick.’
‘Yes you are.’
She feels I’m sick even though she is thousands of miles away from me. Eventually, I end up going to the doctor following her orders. My mother did call my grandmother. They spoke for a while, congratulated each other, and then, my grandfather wanted to congratulate his daughter.
‘Ruby, is the volcano which is about to erupt near Santiago?’
‘No, dad, it is near the boundary between Argentina and Chile. You have nothing to worry about, it is far away from Santiago and it will not harm me.’
‘Ah, okay then. Then let us hope the volcano erupts on Mrs. Kirchner and leaves her dusty and dead.’
My grandfather is really cynical and says cynical comments. Criticizes everything, and really means, but, deep inside, he is a sensitive, old, and tall man, and grumpy, the grumpiest.
‘Ok mamma, I love you with all my heart. After I hang up, I will call my grandparents, pay Nuris, and call aunt Gretel, Mari, Judith, Liana, Carolina, Leila, Elizabeth, and Diana. ‘
‘Do not forget Ofe and Katherine.’
‘Ok, mamma, don’t worry.’
‘Ah, and Manolete, don’t forget to…’
‘Mamma,’ I interrupted. ‘It is Sunday, let me rest.’
‘Ok baby. I will call you tomorrow for more instruction. Love you!’