Here’s a virtual Mother’s Day hug to all mothers out there. Happy Mother’s Day to you all!!

The book that I’m holding is called, “Mama’s Last Hug.” In this blog, I will be talking about a mother’s hug. This book talks about animal emotions and what they tell us about ourselves. I won’t go into much details on animal emotions; because I will save it for next week blog.

The Gorilla Foundation, from Woodside, California had a gorilla named Koko. Her trainer was Francine Patterson. Koko had an active vocabulary of more than 1,000 signs of what Patterson calls “Gorilla Sign Language. I found Koko quite interesting when I took a Psychology course and came upon that study. I even get emails from that foundation. This is my connection I have with the late Robin Williams. Robin Williams had befriended Koko on his many trips to this foundation to visit Koko. When Robin Williams passed away, Koko took it quite hard.

You probably wondered why I mentioned this? I came upon this book and it reminded me of Koko. I may had never met Koko personally, but from the studies, I found her to be fascinating.

It goes to show that even animals have emotions. They feel just as much as humans. Don’t let anyone tell you different!

Do you know that there’s healing in getting a hug? I don’t care if it’s a hug between a couple, friends, siblings, or even parents. When I was younger, the big thing was that guys don’t hug guys. Some say it’s inappropriate. It’s not the hug but how it’s administered to another person. For the longest time I had a hard time in accepting a hug from a male friend because of that belief.

Just like it’s healing when a mother would kiss a child’s boo-boo. When a child falls and get hurt, not only would a mother put a bandage on it; she would also kiss it to make it feels better. I remembered, one time while running out to the car after being picked up at the babysitter. I fell and got up and continued my way to the car, where dad was waiting. My mother told me that I asked him to kissed my owie. So you see, a child knows that; much like animals knows.

My mother had a hug for anyone she knew. She would hug her kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews; and so on.

She told me that my grandfather would paid his kids and grandchildren to give him a hug; since not many wanted to hug him. Whereas, my grandmother would asked, “what do you want” if anyone gave her a hug. I never witnessed that though. So maybe my mother inherited her affectionate from her father.

I remembered as a child, my mother would tell us kids to go give dad a hug goodnight. When we did that, he would turned his head and reluctantly gave that hug. I do remembered him giving us a whisker rub though.

My mother had so much compassion. Everyone who knew her, loved the fact that she was willing to give people hugs. She would even hug someone; even if that person hurt someone she loved. My step-brother, Ronny, knew that when he asked her for a hug.

It goes to show that there is special power in a hug.

I’m glad that my folks wasn’t alive during the Pandemic when everyone was force to stay home and 6 feet away. It would had been hard on my mother to do that. She loved her family, and seeing them brought joy to her life. A chance to give hugs and kisses she really enjoyed.

The year I turned 50, I was on a train going out West to Washington State to not only celebrate my 50th birthday but also my Uncle Leo’s 80’s birthday. I imagined my mother sitting beside me on that train. I imagined her hugging her brother for his 80th birthday.

I miss my mother and the hugs I had received throughout my life from her; since I was a child to before she passed away.

I’m not the hugger she was. Maybe I take after dad that way.

My mother was the emotional person who worn her heart on her sleeve; while dad wasn’t emotional. Yet, they somehow complete each other.

When people came to visit, they came to visit her because of her loving-kindness. Then dad would get that companionship as well. Everybody who knew my mother, loved her. She didn’t have a bad things to say about anyone. She’ll tolerate someone even though she didn’t really care for that person. I can’t do that like she could.

My mother may be gone, but knowing her, she’s up in heaven giving everyone a hug. She’s hugging her parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. At the same time, her spirit is watching over us down here as well. At times, I can still feel her hugging me whenever I needs a hug.

To those who mothers are still alive, if you can go see her and give her a hug, letting her know how much you love and appreciate her. If you live too far away to see your mother in person, call your mother to tell her that you loved her. A mother doesn’t want gifts and cards. They just want to know that their children hadn’t forgotten her.

I love you, mom!! I missed the hugs and kisses I received from you.