The Red Rose

Hi Everyone!
    Today, I'd like to share something that has nothing to do with my move to Philadelphia. In fact it has to do with something that I often don't talk about, my religion. As many people know I was born in Vietnam and I'm Buddhist. I would consider myself a practicing Buddhist although I don't go to temple every week like I did when I was younger. However, luckily that's not something that determines whether you are a good Buddhist or not.
    We don't have too many big holidays in this religion, the ones I can think about are New Years (which seems more cultural), Buddha's birthday and Mother's Day (Vu Lan). Today happened to be my favorite of the three holidays, Mother's Day. I didn't really appreciate the meaning of this day until a few years ago. On this day, everyone that arrives at the temple is given a rose, a red or white one. You wear a red rose to symbolize that your mother is still alive, and you wear a white one to represent that she has passed away. Many people don't stop to think what this simple tradition means, it is a profound statement.

  A few years ago I attended the funeral for the mother of a friend, a week later the holiday arrived and it was the first time he had to wear the white rose. When it was pinned to him he broke down in tears and I realized how special it is to be able to wear a red rose. When I was younger I didn't think that the white rose ever meant anything, but now I see that the day I have to pin a white rose to my shirt will be the day I have lost everything.  
    This holiday celebrates both parents but is targeted towards celebrating mothers, so I'd like to take a moment to talk about the most important person in my life, my mother.  Like me, she's not very big in size however if I can be half the woman she is I would be happy. She is intelligent, strong and self-less. There is nothing she wouldn't do for her children and I doubt I will ever meet another woman like her. I could go on and on about how amazing of a woman she is.... she is the best cook in the world, she will go after anyone who tries to hurt me, she is always there to support me, in other words she is the ultimate super-woman.

    Obviously there are times that we don't get along, but in the end she has given up everything for me. I can get over her weird fashion choices or the way she falls asleep when she watches TV but then won't let me change the channel, or how she always tells me to drive slower when I already am going 10 miles under the speed limit. I can also get over the fact that she won't ever understand basketball or football even though she's watched those sports for the last 16 years. Through all the times I get frustrated with her traditional ways, I know that she is trying to do what is best for me and every moment of the day she is thinking and worrying about her children and their happiness. She does all of this without asking for anything in return and that's what makes her a great mother.  If one day I am lucky enough to have my own children, I hope that I can be the mother to them that she has been to me.

    This day is important not just for me, but is a great way to be reminded that we need to appreciate our parents more, because they may not be with us forever. Too often we get caught up in the whole they don't understand us, or they are trying to ruin our lives mentality and don't see that there are more important matters in the world.
   So, I'd like to end this post with a little dedication to all the mothers out there, although we might not show our love and gratitude enough, we owe everything to you.  Without you, we are nothing. Take the time out of your day to help your mothers to make their life a little less full of worries and to tell them that you love them. And finally to my mommy, you are amazing and I will never be able to pay you back for everything that you've done for me, but I will try. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Besos,
Ngoc :)