Esta imagen significa tanto para mí, que no alcanzaría el espacio para contar tantas anécdotas en las que se cantaba cumpleaños en casa desde que me conozco. Mamá, nos preparaba esas suculentas tortas, y recuerdo la cara que poníamos todos esperando la hora de recibir nuestro pedazo correspondiente. Era todo un poema, la mirada de nosotros al rededor de la mesa, mientras mamá, arreglaba los platitos, vasitos y cubiertos. Ella, las preparaba de dos kilos, porque éramos seis hijos, más los vecinos, amiguitos y primos, sin embargo, sobraba pastel.

Transcurrieron nuestros cumpleaños, y ella, jamás dejó de hacer esas deliciosas tortas. Cuando yo la veía preparando la manga para decorar la torta, estaba muy de cerca para pedirle el sobrante de la cuchara o dedo, mágico. La decoraba con tanto amor, y personalizaba siempre, con el nombre de cada quien.

Mi madre, cuando joven, era una mujer delgada y alta, con una personalidad fuerte, decidida y muy bella físicamente. Hoy, sigue siendo la mujer más hermosa que me ha regalado Dios. A sus 96 años, en nada, ha cambiado su forma de ser. Continúa siendo la promotora de los cumpleaños nuestros y el de quienes se acuerda. No deja de llamar en su cumpleaños a sus hijos, donde quiera que se encuentren. A sus sobrinos, nueras, amigos, porque cuando trabajaba como visitadora social, cultivó muchas amistades que aún conserva.

Una vez que sus hijos crecimos y nos hicimos independientes, no hemos dejado de cantarle su cumpleaños y de que pique su buen pastel. Jamás, ese pastel, será igual al de la foto, pues es una réplica de sus tortas. Siento que sus cumpleaños todos, han sido bien compensados con esas deliciosas tortas llevadas con el amor de la familia. Desde hace algunos años, tristemente, no la he podido acompañar físicamente. No dejo de rogar a Dios, que me permita abrazarla de nuevo y no separarnos nunca más. Sé que lo voy a lograr.

Cuando vi el pastel, de inmediato llegaron a mi mente las nostalgias del pasado y los anhelos del presente. Espero que todos podamos compartir ese gran pastel, para evocar nuestros recuerdos, y convertirlos realidad.

This image means so much to me, that there is not enough space to tell so many anecdotes in which birthdays were sung at home for as long as I have known myself. Mom would prepare those succulent cakes for us, and I remember the look on our faces as we all waited for the time to receive our corresponding piece. It was a poem, the look on our faces around the table, while mom arranged the little plates, glasses and cutlery. She prepared them in two kilos, because we were six children, plus the neighbors, friends and cousins, however, there was cake left over.

Our birthdays passed, and she never stopped making those delicious cakes. When I saw her preparing the sleeve to decorate the cake, I was very close to ask her for the leftover spoon or finger, magic. She decorated it with so much love, and always personalized it with the name of each person.

My mother, when she was young, was a slim and tall woman, with a strong personality, determined and very beautiful physically. Today, she is still the most beautiful woman God has given me. At 96 years old, she has not changed in any way. She continues to be the promoter of our birthdays and the birthdays of those she remembers. She never fails to call her children on their birthdays, wherever they are. To her nieces, nephews, daughters-in-law, friends, because when she worked as a social worker, she cultivated many friendships that she still keeps.

Once her children grew up and became independent, we have not stopped singing her birthday to her and having her bite her good cake. That cake will never be the same as the one in the photo, because it is a replica of her cakes. I feel that all her birthdays have been well compensated with those delicious cakes brought with the love of the family. Sadly, I have not been able to be with her physically for some years now. I keep praying to God to allow me to embrace her again and never separate us again. I know I will make it.

When I saw the cake, the nostalgia of the past and the yearnings of the present immediately came to my mind. I hope we can all share that big cake, to evoke our memories, and make them come true.