In the beginning of February, mimosa trees were blooming in Tirana and it was a pleasant smell all over the city. That time of the year, even our home smelled “mimosa” flowers. The smell lasted for about a month and it was very strong for my birthday and during March 7, 8 and 9.
That was thanks to my mom being a teacher and to those students mom used to call “Gavrosha” or “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” who were climbing trees and bringing mom those beautiful bunches of fresh mimosa flowers.
Mom used to put them on big vases in the hallway and in the living room but the entire house had a wonderful smell.
I always loved mimosas. Their smell make me happy. Maybe that is link to my happy childhood memories.
March 7 was almost like a holiday, with my mom’s students coming for visit, sometime the entire class. I remember mom staying late the night before while baking cookies and cakes. Even she was tired from all the cooking I could tell she was so happy. Her beautiful eyes were shining when she was opening the front door and hugging one by one all her students. I always admired the connection my mom had with her students and with people in general. I was making fun and saying to mom that part of DNA I didn’t inherit from her.
After moving to USA, I tried to find mimosas in Philadelphia, but it was impossible. Every store that was selling flowers in the city was replying to my request with a sense of wonder. I wanted those flowers for mom. Their smell made her happy. And yes, it is true: there are certain smells, scents, fragrance that instantly makes you feel relaxed and happy. I always used to buy natural flowers for my mom especially for her birthday and for March 7-8, the teacher’s day and woman’s day. But they had no smell at all (to say the best).
Until one day I was so lucky to see mimosas on display on a flower shop on 19 street, south in center city.
I was at the coffee shop across the street and noticed the flowers.
I entered the store so fast and happy that finally I found what I was searching for years. The guy behind the counter was so polite. He told me I was the second person that day looking for mimosa flowers. He opened the glass door fridge and there were only few branches. I told him I want them all. I am not saying the price for one branch. It was insane. But, I was willing to pay any price. He explained to me mimosa flowers were coming from Netherlands every other Monday and he loved the smell. Actually, he said that was the only flower at the store that had a smell.
I gave mom the flowers that afternoon and she was so happy. They say money can't buy happiness but there are few exceptions .. Mom arranged the flowers in a vase with water and one aspirin for keeping them fresh for a while. They lasted only for two days, but sometime even a minute of happiness count…
My Mom - the teacher
I have so many wonderful memories with my mom, so many stories to tell, so many places we have been in both continents. Maybe one day I will write a book about them.
My mom touched the life of so many people. She had a wonderful heart and helped not only her family, but relatives, friends, neighbors, her students (my mom was a teacher for over 30 years). My mom did "good" not because she thought she will be rewarded one day. She did “good” because she felt it. With that wonderful heart I thought mom would have lived over 100. But her heart was weak. As they say: no good deed go unpunished.
One particular story had on impact on me.
It was a winter rainy day, stormy. My mom was teaching on 4th grade. Her class was a mix students of middle class, working class, and poor. Mom was going on every desk and checking the student’s homework. She stopped by one of the desks and saw a student that was shaking. What’s wrong – mom asked the student. He said he was cold. At that moment mom noticed that his school uniform was wet. Mom asked him to take of the uniform and to go near the stove at the front of the class. She offered him her chair so he could sit near the stove and gets warm and dry out. But the student refused to take off the uniform. As mom told me later, he had nothing underneath, no sweater, no t-shirt. Mom felt so sorry for the poor kid. As he was drying his uniform near the stove, mom asked other students who were living near the school to go home and ask their parents if they have old spare clothes. They barely brough back two old sweaters but it was better than nothing. I remember mom coming home that day and she was very sad. That night she stayed up late and made a huge package of old clothes that me and my brother weren’t using anymore and gave to the poor student. And every day mom was asking him if he had eaten that day and was giving him food.
Many years later, me and my mom were walking on Kavaja street, in Tirana (for me, the best street in the world) and a car stopped near us. A tall guy came out of the car and told mom: “Zysh(teacher) Frosina, is that you? He hugged mom, told his name and he said to me:
”You are so lucky for having such a wonderful mother”
I asked mom do you remember him. Was that poor kid? Mom said: no, he was just another student of mine...
