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Marcelle Micheli is a remarkable young woman, a rare mix of strong and uplifting, both personality traits she shares with her mother; Lizzie Micheli, and grandmother; Miriam Pablo de Micheli.
Here we bring you the beautiful story of 3 generations of women who have overcome great sadness and loss and yet continue to be joyful, sweet and loving. These 3 women are an inspiration, and so here we bring you our interview with Marcelle about her mother as well as her grandmother, because “to me, she is my mother too.”
@cdcliving: What makes you feel so proud of your mothers?
I’ll start off this one with my mother, Lizzie. She’s a warrior, and I’ve always wondered how she does it. I’m not exaggerating when I say that for 22 years and a half, life has thrown her a few curveballs. Most women would not be able to bear being a widow twice at the age of 49. To lose the man you love, your husband is difficult enough as it is, but imagine losing the man you love twice.
The first time she became a widow she was 8 months pregnant with me and only 26 years old. Life has put her down on her knees several times, but she got up, and today, she is a mightier woman. She puts lifes trials to the test, not the other way round, and that is a trait that not everyone has been blessed with. She has known grief and sadness from a very close distance, and somehow she manages to bring sunshine into the room every single time she walks in.
I enjoy seeing how keen she is to keep herself rejuvenated despite the times life has cheated her. She’s a true diamond through and through.
My sweet grandmother Miriam is one of a kind. She’s loving, giving, tender and yet so strong, even if she doesn’t have a clue. She’s the rock of everyone in our family, and we all hide under her wings. Everybody loves her: my friends, my closest classmates from school and college, and throughout the years I’ve arrived at the conclusion that she’s the type of mother and grandma anybody would want to have.
@cdcliving: What do your mothers do best?
Lizzie is a great problem solver. Problems are like arithmetic equations to her. You hand them over, and can expect them to be solved within a fraction of a second. It’s like the human factor isn’t even there! She’s also a great lie detector, detective, alarm clock, psychologist, best friend, shopping partner, handkerchief and pastry chef.
Miriam is a wonderful listener. There’s something soothing about the way she listens and the way she speaks to you. She gives me peace of mind.
@cdcliving: In what ways are you and your mothers alike?
Lizzie and I have been cursed and blessed with the same character, strong and imposing. We rarely settle and we’re always striving to give our best in whatever it is that we decide to take on. We like challenges and we are hard workers. Physically I resemble my late father, but lately some people have told me that throughout the years, I have taken after her.
Miriam and I are both alike in that we enjoy being a helping hand; I’ve noticed that she likes being a good person not only for herself and for the people dear to her heart but everyone else that she crosses paths with.
@cdcliving: What do you enjoy doing with your mothers in your spare time?
Lizzie doesn’t have much free time, she’s always doing something and her work schedule knows not the meaning of time. She keeps herself busy, come rain or come shine. She’s always striving to be a better professional for my brother and me, and that makes us extremely proud of her. However, when she does have free time, we enjoy hitting the malls and stores in Santo Domingo. She has an amazing taste and sense of fashion, and enjoys looking after her body and closet. I see her once a week. When she comes to Santo Domingo, we have mother-daughter dinners and/or lunches. We go out and talk about our week over a meal and drinks.
Miriam and I bond over lunch on Saturdays or Sundays when I arrive in Romana. She always has a plate on the table for me. We sit down and talk for hours. No time in the world is enough with her. Mostly I enjoy keeping her company, because she has a unique, grandma-like ability to make even the most boring or random conversation a lovely one.
@cdcliving: How do you view yourself as a mother?
It’s something most women day dream about. You build yourself this scenario of how it will be when the day comes and you get to hold the tiny creature in your arms. For several personal reasons, I promised myself I’ll be the best version of a mother I can. I’d love to be the perfect balance between my mother and my grandmother; strong, but sweet.
Is YOUR mom special? Email us now with the answer to the question: what makes your mom special? We’ll be publishing your answers tomorrow for Mother’s Day.
Email: rhughes@silgon.net