My Phenomenal Abuela

One of my titas asked my cousins and I who'd like to say something about her, this lovely woman we called lola. They all turned to look at me, but I just couldn't bring myself to stand in front of all those people without picturing me embarrassing myself. I found myself speechless and just shook my head vigorously.

Of course they'd look at me. I was her favorite, relatives tell me. And definitely, she was mine. She was the mother I knew for years, when my mom had to go back to work right after my teeny toes and fingers made an appearance. And even when she left to be with another set of her grandchildren, she would always come rushing if I needed an ally. She was more than great. She was beautifully amazing!

Caitlin with Great Granny Fortunata

People keep telling me, she's all right now and at peace. But it's still hard to swallow the fact that I have to speak about her in the past tense now in order to be grammatically correct. It plain sucks. I can't, in all honesty, say I'm happy that she's supposedly at peace now. I'm not happy. I already miss her.

I guess saying goodbye is only difficult for those who are left behind. And it will continue to be so until we meet again, I assume. But I'll plod on and try hard to be strong. She will expect me to be so. She was one tough lady, after all. She had to be in order to care for her numerous children... and even more numerous grandchildren... who all adore her. She was a superwoman.

Memories of you will forever tug at the heartstrings and bring huge loving smiles to the faces of your children and their children--and their children's children--for years to come, La Natang. We will miss you always, you phenomenally beautiful and wonderful woman.

And this poem will always remind me of her. ^_^

Phenomenal Woman
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I'm telling lies.

I say,

It's in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It's the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can't touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them

They say they still can't see.

I say,

It's in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.

Now you understand

Just why my head's not bowed.

I don't shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It's in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need of my care,

'Cause I'm a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That's me.