A Tribute To My Mother
by
Lupe Wallwork Bowen
Lupe Wallwork Bowen
My mother Lucy, has a heart of gold, she would give you the shirt off her back it you needed it. She would never think of herself first, she has always put her family first and foremost.
My mother is a hard worker with great work ethics. I remember her lecturing us that if we wanted something we had to go out and work for it. That money didn’t grow on trees. Although she is in her 80s, and should be relaxing under a palm tree on a beach, my mother continues to work. Both my parents were hard workers who have instilled in us that same value.
My mother loves to dance, which is interesting since she suffers from arthritis. But I have seen this woman on the dance floor doing a mean cha cha or the electric slide like she was a teenager. Her love of dance has sparked my interest in Polynesian dancing as well. As a young girl I was taught how to dance from Mom and Auntie Ida. I’m so grateful that tradition was passed down to me.
At a very young age I had learned how to cook traditional Samoan cuisine. To this day I still make cocoa rice, Samoan pancakes, taro, fa‘alifu fa‘i, sapasui, puligi like my mother had taught me.
In Dec 1999, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Scared and confused, my mom was right there with words of encouragement and a hug. After my surgery in Jan. 2000, it was my mother’s face that I first saw when I awoke and it was her smile that lit up the room. As I began radiation therapy, I was feeling down and at my lowest point, it was my mom who held my hand telling me that I can endure, that I can do this. With words of encouragement and healthy eating my mother nursed me back to health. I couldn’t have done this alone without the love and support of my mom and family.
When I think of my mom, I think of her unconditional love she has for her family, respect, strength, traditions and honor, and I am proud that I am her daughter! I love you Mom!!
My mother is a hard worker with great work ethics. I remember her lecturing us that if we wanted something we had to go out and work for it. That money didn’t grow on trees. Although she is in her 80s, and should be relaxing under a palm tree on a beach, my mother continues to work. Both my parents were hard workers who have instilled in us that same value.
My mother loves to dance, which is interesting since she suffers from arthritis. But I have seen this woman on the dance floor doing a mean cha cha or the electric slide like she was a teenager. Her love of dance has sparked my interest in Polynesian dancing as well. As a young girl I was taught how to dance from Mom and Auntie Ida. I’m so grateful that tradition was passed down to me.
At a very young age I had learned how to cook traditional Samoan cuisine. To this day I still make cocoa rice, Samoan pancakes, taro, fa‘alifu fa‘i, sapasui, puligi like my mother had taught me.
In Dec 1999, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Scared and confused, my mom was right there with words of encouragement and a hug. After my surgery in Jan. 2000, it was my mother’s face that I first saw when I awoke and it was her smile that lit up the room. As I began radiation therapy, I was feeling down and at my lowest point, it was my mom who held my hand telling me that I can endure, that I can do this. With words of encouragement and healthy eating my mother nursed me back to health. I couldn’t have done this alone without the love and support of my mom and family.
When I think of my mom, I think of her unconditional love she has for her family, respect, strength, traditions and honor, and I am proud that I am her daughter! I love you Mom!!
