Mother

The Daily Haiku for Feb 11. Mother.

I owe you so much,
the music, strength, fairness,
the smells and the books

Corny as it may seems, it wouldn't be fair to spend February writing haikus inspired by my childhood without devoting one to my mother.

From her I got my passion for books and reading, but also my love for music. She sang in a band when she was young, and her sister, my aunt, played drums in another, and gave me my first instrument. So you could say hat music runs strong in my mom's family.

She was a hardworking woman. Apart from taking care of my sister and I, she worked as a teacher.

She was also a feminist. Unlike in most other homes in Southern Spain in the 80's, my sister and I would both help in the kitchen, cooking, washing the dishes, and doing the weekend house cleaning.

From her I learned fairness, and that none of us should have more privileges because of our gender, race, sexual orientation, or cultural background.

She is not perfect, of course. None of us is. But she is one of the best human beings I've ever meet.