Story by Carmen Estrada, Summer 2022
Even when we were running late for mass, my mother always made sure we stopped by the store to get roses. My mom has always loved plants so she always made sure to pick the best she could find. Two bouquets, one for La Virgencita at church and one for our home. I never understood my mothers fascination with plants, but I did appreciate it. In my house there were always jars with plants in water or pots where my mother’s new plants were supposed to go. My mother isn’t very good with plants, but that never made her stop caring for them. I was also told that my father would always bring my mother roses in the youth of their romance, perhaps that’s why she loves them so much. Every big holiday, birthday, or special occasion they would always be there and I grew to love them as well.
Every 12th of December, we would make a journey to the shrine of La Virgen. Flowers in hand, we would place the roses in one of the many vases with water and light a candle. I still didn’t get why roses were such a big deal to my mom. So I curiously decided to ask her and my mom told me that when she was a child her mama would bring her with her to pick flowers to leave at La Virgen’s altar. When my mother and I immigrated here, we left a lot of things without doubt, but till this day, my mom still stops to pick up flowers to bring to La Virgen. This is the way she stayed connected to her family and her home. I now think of my family, my homeland, my cultura whenever I see roses. I enjoy being around plants, because of roses and my mom.