i love you because…

Twenty four years since you left us, an yet it feels like yesterday.  You really left us too young [my mother was 47 when she passed], and while your life was not always easy…having you around always made my life better.  There are no words to thank someone who truly sacrificed everything for her family.

Our relationship was one of those classic “you don’t know what you have until you lose it’ kind of relationships.  I never understood how much easier life was with you around.  How although at times, I’m sure I made you crazy, you always took my side (even if I was in the wrong).  Even when I lost my way, you were always there to guide me back on track.  For as long as I can remember, you always had my back!  In your eyes I could do no wrong.

you always had my back.

You gave me the strength to take on the world.  You gave me the courage to challenge the norm and fight for what I believed.  You gave me the comfort of knowing I could fall, and you would always catch me.  We had a connection, a bond that no one can ever replace.  Just seeing you cry would send tears streaming down my face, seeing you laugh, would instantly put a smile on my face, and watching you live and breathe your Latin Roots, has planted the same roots deep in my soul.

Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder what we would be doing today if you were still here.  Eating, chatting, and crafting up a storm with some loud music on…or perhaps planning our next trip to Uruguay.  Whatever we would be doing, I know we would be together.

Today, because of you, I continue to invest and grow 365because…you are my reason to strive to achieve success.  I hope when you look down on us, you realise your sacrifices were not in vain and you are proud of what we have achieved.

~ I dedicate this to my Mum – Raquel Oliver

The post True Story No. 7 MUM first appeared on 365 Because.

i love you because…

When I look back on my childhood, I have nothing but fond memories and for that, I thank my parents.  Although we were never rich, we always had a warm bed at night, food on the table, and more cuddles than we could ask for.  We were blessed to learn two languages; play competitive tennis and I can still remember the day my dad came home with an Atari.

The only reason my sister and I were able to experience such a happy, safe childhood was because of the sacrifices my parents made.  When I think about what they went through to give their family a better future, words cannot express my gratitude.  We were born in Uruguay, a tiny country in South America and had we grown up there, our lives today, would be so very different.

Thinking back to what I was doing in my early 20’s, I could not imagine leaving my friends, traveling a million miles away, to live in a country I couldn’t even speak the language of.  Yet that is exactly what my parents did.  They left their family and friends…travelled to the other side of the world…and although English was not their first language, they both landed in Australia with two suitcases, two young children and two jobs (one each).

you sacrificed so much for us.

There is no doubt in my mind the decision my parents made so early in their lives, despite having a positive impact on our lives, was not always easy.  Many tears were shed while listening to a voice recorded cassette tape, the arrival of a handwritten letter or the occasional, old fashion house phone, international call.  I know it could not have been easy…at times scary, yet all along having to provide and protect your family.

I am truly grateful for all the sacrifices you made then and continued to make as I was growing up, oblivious to it all.  I’m grateful for the opportunities you allowed me to have.  And I’m grateful for the love you continue to give me today!  I hope when you reminisce on your life, it’s with a smile, a sense of pride and above all, a great sense of achievement.

~ I dedicate this to my Dad – Nestor Oliver

The post True Story No. 6 DAD first appeared on 365 Because.

Although my sister and I were always close, it was not until our mother passed away that we began to appreciate the friendship we had.  In my eyes, my sister has always been the most successful person, the most inspiring person and to this day remains the most influential person in my life.

I remember our mother always saying…’love your sister…there is nothing like sisters…you need to stick together’.  Those words will always be with me.

It was while I was at uni that I found myself struggling to find the perfect gift for my sister.  I wanted something that would be meaningful, that she did not already have and that would not cost me the earth.  I realised I was searching for something that I would never find.

I was searching for a gift that would show her how much I loved her…with that, I created my first ‘i love you because…’

we always stick together.

I remember that moment when I realised the gift, I wanted to get for my sister was not something I could buy off the shelf.  It was not something I could find in stores, nor was it something I could outsource and have someone make it for me.  I would need to invest my time, not my dollars if I was to create the perfect gift.  And that is what I did.

I went about gathering things that reminded me of my sister and times we had shared.  Some photos, some letters we had written when I first moved away (this was pre-Facebook days), I played some music we had danced to and I grabbed myself a drink.  I sat on the loungeroom floor with my things all spread out.  It was such an emotional experience.  One that made me feel so close to her, albeit 300km away.

As I sat and wrote my ‘i love you because…’ notes, one thing became evidently clear.  Every reason I wrote, every memory I had, every connection we shared…I knew that my sister and I would always stick together.

~ I dedicate this to my sister – Patricia Oliver

The post True Story No. 5 PAT first appeared on 365 Because.

There are people in the world who are just beautiful people…inside and out!  People who shine with such a bright light that draws you in.  They have this calmness about them that makes you appreciate the time you spend together.  I am thankful for every precious minute I have spent with my cousin Erika.

Life was never meant to be easy, and some people receive more than their fair share of challenges.  It’s how we ride these waves…how we come out on the other side that shape who we become.  Despite all the battles you have had to endure, you have grown to become a beautiful, caring, smart young lady.

you’re a survivor.

Never have I heard you question, deny, or complain about the cards you were dealt.  You just accepted it and took it in your stride.  Although there is no doubt it was hard at times, you maintained a level of innocence and joyfulness that I’ve always admired.  I wish we lived closer, so we could have played as children…I wish we lived closer, so we could share stories…I wish we lived closer, so you could shine your light on me.

While you have gone on to achieve many great things in your life, in August 2015, you blessed us all with your greatest accomplishment yet…Germán.  He is such a mini you.  He too has this aura around him that attracts nothing but positivity.  With you by his side to guide him through this wonderful world we live in, he is bound to have a long and happy life.

You should be proud of the success you experience today…I know your mum would be.

You deserve all the happiness in the world.

~ I dedicate this to my Cousin – Erika Cabrera

The post True Story No.4 ERIKA first appeared on 365 Because.

The love I have for this amazing woman is the same I shared for my mother!  And I guess in many ways she is the closest I have to a mother…for this wonderful woman, is my Tia Pelusa, my mothers sister.  My Tia is the perfect evidence that blood is thicker than water!  She proves that although I may not have grown up near her, I was always a part of her.

While I don’t wish to reveal my age (it may or may not start with a 4), I would be lucky to have spent collectively a total of 18 months of my life with this beautiful woman…yet the bond we share is closer than many who may have spent a lifetime together.  It had been 19 years since I had last seen her…and yet I felt like I was coming home.  My Tia has this special talent of making me feel so loved.  “What’s your favourite food?” she asked…”What do you wish you could eat right now?” she asked…and just like that, it was in front of me ready to eat!

your love is unconditional

My Tia loves me…for me…her love is unconditional!

When I’d wake up with puffy eyes and matted hair, she would tell me I looked beautiful…when I felt silly and confused because I didn’t understand something, she would tell me how smart I was…when I’d complain because someone was rude to me, she would instantly defend me…even if I was wrong…no matter what, she would always take my side!  In her eyes, I could do no wrong.

My Tia is a powerful woman and someone I look up to.  She is someone who always has the best intentions.

I would sit for hours with her…looking over old photos and listening to her stories…many of which involved family members I only knew by name.  I especially loved listening to stories that involved my mother.  Her stories always made me laugh…and many made me cry!  But I always knew they were filled with warmth and genuine love.

I know that my mothers best friend was her sister…and for that, I will always love my Tia.

My Tia is someone I will always want on my side.

~ I dedicate this to my Tia – Maria Luisa Bernasconi

The post True Story No. 3 TIA PELU first appeared on 365 Because.

There are many amazing people in the world!  Strong people!  Soldiers that just keep on going, no matter what sh*t life throws at them.  You know the ones…they find strength at a time when many would give up…they can juggle everything and still manage to keep everyone happy and with a smile on their face.  When others crumble, they just shrug their shoulders and say “what can you do…”.  I am proud to say that my beautiful cousin Monica is one of these people…and what makes it even more powerful, is that she doesn’t even know how beautiful she is.

My family reunion continued as I made my way across the Atlantic Ocean and into Uruguay.  The last time I had visited was 19 years ago…the year after my mother had passed away.  Although I found myself once again not knowing what awaited me, I was quickly reassured by my cousins warm embrace.  And with that, we picked up from where we had left off, 19 years of separation…erased…just like that.

you’re stronger than you know.

I know I am a better person for having my cousin Monica in my life.  She has shown me what it means to love unconditionally.  And while she may not be rich…she is far more wealthier than any person I know.  She is always surrounded by her family, good friends and even strangers find themselves drawn to her.  She can turn any bad day upside down and leave you wondering why you were ever upset to start with.  She makes you realise that life is great and worth living!

I have the utmost respect for my cousin.  Every challenge that life has thrown at her has made her stronger.  She is a wonderful mother, daughter, friend and a far too good of a wife for her husband (sorry Checho, but we all know you are punching above your weight  xx).  Although our time together went way to quickly, my cousin is always in my heart.

If I can be half the woman she is, I would be very proud!

~ I dedicate this to my Cousin – Monica Victoria Allidi

The post True Story No. 2 MONICA first appeared on 365 Because.

I had decided to finally make the long overdue trip to visit my family.  It had been over 24 years since I had last seen my Cousin now living in Vienna.  My mother would tell us stories of him that were always full of love and laughter and while my Cousin was known as the ‘troubled one’ of the family, I know she had a soft spot for him.  I grew up knowing that while we were oceans apart from our family, they were always close at heart!

I had finally landed and was making my way out of the airport.  Although I was super excited, a small part of me was a little apprehensive as I was not sure what I would find.  My Cousin now had his own family…he was married to a beautiful woman who I had only seen in photos, he had two children and he had planted his roots well and truly in Vienna.  I would be a mere stranger to him and his family.  Would I be getting in their way?  Had too much time gone by?  Would he even remember who I was?  What if we didn’t recognise each other?  And then, as I struggled, pushing my suitcases around the corner…I saw him.

you welcomed me with open arms.

Instantly I felt a connection…the excitement in his step as he made his way around to me gave me all the reassurance I needed to know I had made the right decision to visit.  He welcomed me with open arms, and gave me the warmest, tightest and most comforting embrace.  At that moment I knew we had a bond that no matter how much time had passed it couldn’t be broken!

Over the next week, I went on to meet his beautiful family and some of his friends.  We spend every day together.  He opened his heart and showed me a small part of his life.  We laughed until we cried, we drank coffee, we walked, we talked…and he gave me the greatest gift of all…his Time.

It was obvious why he had finally settle in Vienna.  He was truly happy!

~ I dedicate this to my Cousin – Gustavo Allidi-Bernasconi.

The post True Story No. 1 GUS first appeared on 365 Because.