As tons of pilgrims all over the world have done since the beginning of time, I myself have traveled to various places in search of self-discovery and enlightenment. I've traveled to places such as Lourdes, Santiago, the Vatican, and others. Yet none has been more important to me, than my "pilgrimage" to my hometown of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico.
In August of 2012, I visited the beautiful island, to attend my nephew Christian's wedding in Isabela.
I stayed with my beloved Mom in our home in Cabo Rojo. In hindsight, it was the perfect time to visit with my lovely mother, for only a year later she had gone to live with our Lord in heaven.
Mom and I were in the habit of taking an afternoon siesta in the larger of the two bedrooms, the one with the set of twin beds. The selfish one that I am, I slept in the bed closest to the door and nearer to the bathroom. But Mom didn't mind—she was elated just to have me spent time with her. There were days in August, when there was no need for air-conditioning—Mom was in the habit of keeping the windows and doors closed, to keep the bedrooms cool. So even after lunch, when we would go down for our siesta, the bedroom was still comfortably cool.
I remember, that during those times when the air-conditioning wasn't on and obliterating all outdoor sounds, I could listen to the chirping of every bird, the barking of every dog in the village, the shattered conversations of our neighbors. But more importantly, I remember Mom lying so still in the other bed, that I would sometimes wondered if she was alive—to this day I remember that she slept face up and that she didn't move during the entire night, except only when she had to get up to use the bathroom. The only visible sign of life in her, was her feet rubbing against one another ever so gently, and in lull-like manner, as her tired aging body rested—a habit that was both comforting and soothing, to both Mom and to moi.
Most importantly, I remember all the day trips we took together during my one-month stay that year. Sometimes my sister-in-law Hidy would join us. Mom knew much about the island, and she delighted in sharing her knowledge with us—something I will treasure all my life. She directed us to places as far as El Faro and to Guanica, to the now-defunct sugar mill. And, as close as the popular cafe in town. When we visited La Central Eureka in Hormigueros, she delighted as she pointed out and reminisced about places from her childhood—as a young girl she lived on the grounds of the sugar plantation. She understood that all this information would be very important in my research for my book,
The Women in White.
That is why my August 2012 "pilgrimage" to Cabo Rojo was so important to me. I was given a last chance at an invaluable mother/daughter reunion, one I would cherish for the rest of my life. I found more enlightenment and self-discovery, more truth and meaning on this trip, than I will ever find on any other pilgrimage in a remote corner of the world.
 |
| A beautiful beach in Cabo Rojo - Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Plaza de Mayaguez - Photo Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Catholic Church in town - Photo Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Cabo Rojo Lighthouse - Photo Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Schoenstatt Sanctuary (within walking distance from Mom's house) - Photo Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Central La Eureka - Photo Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Photo Courtesy Flicker |
 |
| One of the centrales visited (not sure if La Eureka, or Guanica). Photo Courtesy: Flicker |
 |
| Mom, a year later at her 89th Birthday celebration. |
