Recalling a sunrise and a sunset

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If you ever have a chance to see one, do it; especially if it is with someone you love.

These two stories cover a long space in time about my biggest fan, my mother. She did the best that she knew how and I loved her for that. Her name was Virginia Castaneda but I always called her Mama. She liked to call me Amado, which in Spanish means “beloved.”

Together we saw the seasons change year after year. At a very early age, I noticed she was always awake before the sunrise and by the time sunset was ending, my mother was ready for tomorrow.

I remember a vague childhood memory of seeing my first sunrise with my dear mama. We were going someplace. The only thing out that night were the stars. I was asleep but I do remember tossing and turning in the backseat of our vehicle when my mother lovingly said in Spanish, “ninos, ninos, wake up, we are here now.”

I woke up and rubbed my eyes. I saw my mother and this beautiful sunrise in front of her. I wanted to get a little bit closer so I climbed up on the back of the seat and grabbed her shoulders. She picked me up and then both of us looked at the marvelous sunrise together. It was a sight to see.

It seems like yesterday even though she passed away about 15 years ago.

Years later, sitting in the patio of our cozy apartment with my lovely wife Rosa, something caught my eye and another memory of my mother came over me; and so my sunset story begins.

It was one late afternoon when my mother and I were cleaning some offices in the city of Vernon. The building had remarkable views facing downtown Los Angeles and the ocean.

My mother was rushing me to hurry up. She did not want to be late for church that day. I was working in one of the offices when suddenly I heard my mom yelling and screaming my name out loud.

“Amado, Amado, come here!”

Even though Amado means beloved, something in the sound of her voice told me something was very wrong.

I dropped what I was doing and ran very fast to the back of the building. The door was wide open when I got there.

I was expecting the worst. My mother was standing and pointing at something outside in the distance. I didn’t look to see what she was pointing at because I was in a panic mode. My eyes were too busy making sure my mother was not hurt in any way.

To tell you the truth, my heart was beating very fast. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.

Throughout this whole time, my mother kept repeating, “Mijo, mira” (son, look). I turned around to see what she was pointing at. Oh, believe me, I wanted to say something to scold her for scaring me but I couldn’t. The only words that came out of my mouth were, “Si, mama, it’s a beautiful sunset.”

She turned around and gave me the biggest and most calming smile I ever saw. At that moment, I was looking at something magical in front of me. The light from the sunset was kissing her pale white skin and seemed to be dancing in her curly brown hair. We gazed at the view for a very long time before the sunset said goodnight to the both of us.

While I may sometimes miss a sunrise and sunset, I will always remember the first one’s I saw. Gracias, mama, from your loving son, Amado.

Mario Amado Castaneda is a student in the Downey City Library’s Adult Literacy Program.