contents - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New York ...

Donnley Edwardsdonnley edwards Being Together78My Happiest Memoryihave many happy memories throughout my life, from my childhood tomotherhood; however, my happiest memory is of the last day I spent with mymother when she was alive.The last day I saw my mother alive was the night before I returned to theUnited States. I was visiting my family in my native country. After spending twoweeks with my family, enjoying the Caribbean culture, the food and the drinks, itwas time for me to return to my home that I have built here.The night before I left, my mother and most of my siblings were alltogether, just enjoying the last night of my visit. My mother was cooking, and mysiblings were telling jokes about our childhood and what we used to be like beforewe all became adults and parents.I stood there looking at my mother, taking the last picture of her beforeI got ready to leave. She looked like the happiest person in the world. She wassmiling all night, so I asked, “Why are you smiling so much when I am about toleave you again?” She replied that she had almost all her children in her home alltogether at the same time. It was like we were all little children again.My mother told each and every one of us for the first time how much sheloved us and what set us apart from one another. The last thing my mother said tome was that one day all of her children will come visit again, all together in the samehouse, drinking chocolate tea, her favorite tea.Happy memories can be built throughout the years, but cherish the oneyou hold dear to your heart because tomorrow belongs to no one. You can lose theone you have not expected to lose.Donnley Edwards writes: “I am a 26-year-old mother of two wonderfulchildren, a son and a daughter. I immigrated from Georgetown, Guyana, eightyears ago. My dream is to become a nurse. I am very appreciative of the peoplewho encourage me to keep motivating myself: my friends, siblings, workmates,classmates, my teacher, Sister Judith Mausser of New Horizons, and mybiggest inspiration, the loving memory of my mother, Beverly A. Andries.”