My Family After Tragedy

My mother died recently in Cuba.  The news did not arrive by surprise; her health had deteriorated during the weeks before her passing and I was aware of her condition: complications of advanced age.  She met her end in her home, on her bed, and surrounded by family and friends; I was not there. When I received the news of her death I was sad and stricken by grief, "my mother has died".  I told my daughters and they cried; perhaps the death of my mother reminded them of the death of their own mother. The next day I had time to think about what my mother meant to me.  "Did she love me? Of course, I have no doubt!  Did I love her back?  Yes; in my ways, but I can not ignore that what I am today she helped me forge.  Do I feel pity for her?" What you are about to read, my version, only one other person in the world knows and that is my wife.  I dare to write these stories because perhaps my daughters will read them and they will come to understand da...

Another Month Without Christina Today marks another month without Christina’s physical presence. Yet, her absence does not mean her influence has faded. Much like a timeless piece of music composed centuries ago, Christina’s legacy continues to echo in our lives—subtle, enduring, and deeply felt. What she gave us remains, even as we move through time, until one day we, too, join her. Is the world better off because Christina lived in it? The answer doesn’t lie in praise or recognition, but in the quiet ways she made life better for those around her—often without them even realizing it. I know I wouldn’t be here writing these words if not for the life she shared with me. Our children wouldn’t be who they are—their strength, their kindness, their boundless potential—all of it rooted in what their mother gave them. Christina gave us her essence, expecting nothing in return. How many lives are still touched by her dedication, her efforts, her love for the things she did so well? There are ...