Mamita Chula’s heart was aching as she cleaned her house from top-to-bottom. One would have thought the Imperial Queen herself was coming for a visit, and not her youngest child, Lexi, coming home for college.
Eighteen-year old Lexi was the most critical of Mamita-- “…why don’t you…why did you…why won’t you…why…why…why…?” And truth be known, Mamita was not much of a stickler for details, and a spotlessly clean house had never had been a top priority! Maybe Lexi’d think her mother had a cleaning epiphany during Lexi’s sabbatical in Mexico; maybe the house would be so inviting Lexi would stay home. Lexi had been smitten with a “Mexican-Heritage-Bug” during her semester at the University of Guadalajara. Coupled with a bad case of “I’m-On-My-Own Tequila Fever,” she was now suffering from “Gotta-Save-the-World Syndrome,” or so Mamita felt.
Satisfied that her house was as clean as it was going to get, Mamita Chula put away her cleaning supplies, wiped down the counters one last time, and lit her favorite Yankee Candle, “Home Sweet Home,” by the back door. “Home Sweet Home”-- how appropriate for our reunion, thought Mamita as she grabbed her coat, and rushed for the airport.
Oh those little details; Mamita was late which left a disgruntled Lexi hauling her over-stuffed luggage through the airport. Lexi hopped in Mamita’s car, gave her mother a perfunctory kiss, and then sat with her attitude looking out the window. Mamita’s heart sank.
When they finally arrived home, they walked into the “Home Sweet Home” fragrant kitchen. Lexi started to cry.
She leaned into her mother, and said, “I didn’t know how much I missed this place. I didn’t even know how much I missed you.”