Diva Talk: Happy Birthday to My Favorite Diva
By Louie Ranieri Staff Writer For this issue of “Diva Talk,” I want to wish my favorite diva, who is also my mother, a happy birthday. This diva is one that I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of life with, showing me that I can take control of any situation. She is living proof that you can be your own boss in life. Having my mom on my side for 19 years now, truly is a testament of how fortunate I am. No matter the distance or circumstance, I know she is always there for me. She does so much for my family - members of my family don’t always see it fully and might take her for granted. My mom is always putting others first before herself, mentally and physically, never stopping to take the time she needs and deserves for herself. Just last year, she had no choice but to move to Chicago with my grandmother so she could get life-saving surgery. That surgery was a double lung transplant, which meant they had to stay for a whole year. That was a year full of chaos with a feeling of emptiness. No matter how old I get, my mom is my mom and our connection is forever. Even though she was 900 miles away, she still managed to take care of her family at home, balance her work, and be a full-time caregiver - she never gets enough credit for any of this. She would still fly home for any major or minor events my younger siblings or I had going on, from my sister’s school dance to my high school graduation. My mom has also given us her all, from taking us on vacations and getaways to bringing us to see our favorite artists in concert. She’s taken me to see my other favorite divas such as Diana Ross, Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, TLC, En Vogue, and many more. When I was little, my parents divorced, only leaving me with a few memories of them together. But the memories I have with my parents separately are undeniably the best! One of my favorite memories to date is going sledding with my mom early in the morning before she dropped me off at preschool. We would go down the hill over and over while the orange and pink sky turned blue. Once the sky was blue, we’d get hot chocolate before making it to school on time for drop off. These are the earliest memories I have that will always stay with me. My mother’s impact on me has been tremendous, showing me that nothing is impossible. If you dream it, you can do it. A businesswoman, mother, wife, sister, friend, and so much more to so many others, she has left an everlasting impact on people for the better. If those people don’t notice it, that’s their loss. This woman has taught me and led me to discover who I truly am. Without my mother, I would be lost in this dark world. Happy birthday, Mom. I love you endlessly. Thank you for everything you do.
