Mother & Daughter Reunion.
by Elena Levon
She still makes me laugh …
As I stepped out of the plane in Antalya, Turkey, my heart was beating so fast, thought it will jump out. My stomach was twisting and turning and it was hard to breath. My flight was delayed for about 2 hours. I was scared that I won’t see her face within the impatient crowd outside …
I haven’t seen my mom in 9 years …
I stood outside of airport waiting for her, holding a little bag with ” Dior ” letters on it, that I got in Beverly Hills …
Flashback to 1986 or so …
I was 2 or so …
She told me not to touch her expensive, Red, Christian Dior Lipstick from France…
One fine morning, stubborn 2 year old Lena, somehow snatched it from her drawer and painted her whole body with it ..
Scaring the hell out of my parents, since they thought it was blood..
I got hell for that!
In my 28 years we have had a lot of fights, years of silence, misunderstandings, pain of loosing my dad and tears..
However we also had hysterical laughs, travel, adventure and fun.
We also had an Atlantic Ocean separating us for the last 9 years…
When I took off in 2003 and came to US, she didn’t even know, until I rang her from one of the glorious and smelly Hostels on Hollywood Blvd., to let her know that I am now living large in America…
A whole life later, finally came to the conclusion that I can no longer store all my feelings in my bitter heart closet and keep hurting..
I wrote her a short letter saying that I choose to walk on the road of forgiveness and compassion and that I am sorry for any pain I have caused her.
In about 7 months after that letter, I’m standing on the Turkish soil…
We decided to meet in a neutral territory.
Now back to the ” Dior ” bag ; with not one, but 2 Dior lipsticks inside…
One was actually from 1980′s that is incredibly rare and really hard to find. It’s just for the keepsake purpose and the other one is the newest of Dior collection in a gorgeous red color.
I also got her a card that has a goofy looking kid on it that reads ;
” Mom, I know I wasn’t an easy kid, but then the truly brilliant are always a challenge… “
And totally messed it up, this time, with my own red lipstick…
I wasn’t a 28-year-old woman standing outside of an airport shivering…
but a two-year old troublemaker that wanted to say ” I’m sorry ” .
I thought it was a perfect reconciliation gift… And a great way to start over.
April 2012, 12 am, Antalya Airport…
My eyes kept searching for her. After 15 minutes I decided to walk to the other arrival gate …
as I walked towards it, heard a high-pitched woman’s voice saying in a broken English, Turkish and German, that her daughter was supposed to arrive and she can’t find her.
My mom was showing them my pictures that she printed from my website ..
she always shows pictures of me by the way… be it to shopkeepers or to governors .. to everyone she meets! Gosh, it makes me so uncomfortable.
Then she turns and sees a woman walking towards her…
” Lenochka ?!! ?? Is it you ?! “
” Da, Mama … “ I said hugging her.
We cried
&
Laughed …
My mom liked Alanya so much that she bought an apartment. Standing on her apartment’s balcony.
Full moon over Alanya. I captured this view from my room at Villa Turka. I lived behind the Castle walls in a historic Villa . It’s an amazing place! Find more info here — VILLA TURKA
Some things NEVER change …
Recognize her outfit in the picture below? ..
↓
That’s right! It’s the same outfit! With my mom in England 1995.
Our first dinner together after 9 years
Looking over beautiful Alanya at my mom’s place. ” Mom, look, I can fly! “
Alanya and Taurus Mountains as seen from Villa Turka – http://www.hotelvillaturka.com
View from Alanya Castle of Damlatas beach and Cleopatra beach. Alanya, Turkey.
She also hurt her knee .. she was surprised to see that her once disorganized child had a “first aid kit” in her backpack…
I took care of her knee and put bandages on it …
yes, I’m her daughter. We have the same hand pose.. : ) At the Dim Chai, sharing food with my mom’s friends.
No matter how old I am, no matter the years, time or the distance between us…
I will always be her little troublemaker…
her little girl…
Lena
To all mothers;
“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, and yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward, not tarries with yesterday. “
- Kahlil Gibran
from the book : The Prophet
_____________________
The woman behind the words …
↓
PS – To the person who searched ” how to avoid traveloholic ” and arrived at my blog…
Answer -
You can’t! Look, there’s a lot of us and we’re everywhere! We also usually attend the traveloholic’s 12 step program with a passport …
but we want you to know, that we’re really trying …
Best,
Travelholics around the world.
Gave me the chills. Looks like a beautiful meeting spot and an even more beautiful story.
Oh my gosh. Wonderfully spoken. Thank you for sharing.
Such a great story!! Thank you for sharing this! So great!
Beautiful story and wonderful pictures!
What a great story!
Lovely. So glad you were able to visit.
This is such a wonderful story and reunion! You are such beautiful ladies!
thank you so much, Susie!!
both from word & pic very delight.
What a wonderful story and how amazing to feel like a little girl again with your mama’s protective arm around you!
it truly was ..
Beautiful written! As a mother of two daughters, I can relate to the challenges that accompany these beautiful relationships. Thanks for your honest emotions. They really touched my heart.
Awh this was beautiful Elena
A great post. It’s the third one in as many days I’ve read about people reconciling some aspect of a mother-daughter relationship. You’ve done it, wrote about & photographed it beautifully – thank you for sharing it with us
beautiful… charming… elegant!
I’m so happy for you El, that you re-connected with your Mom after all this time. There are still many more future memories waiting for you to create with her. xo
oh thank you so much beautiful!
el
Awesome! Looks like a wonderful reunion. Thanks for sharing.
Awesome! What a wonderful reunion. Thanks so much for sharing.
Absolutely beautiful. How brave of you to reach out in compassion and forgiveness!!! You are such an inspiration…
This one really touched my spirit. Thank you!
Thank you darling
Such a touching story, thanks for sharing.
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
just beautiful
What great post….
Wow, great story.
What a beautiful story and location! I’m so glad everything went well for the two of you.
Congratulations on a successful reunion! Life is too short and family blood is too strong to be too proud to apologize and make amends. You have both bridged the chasm. Huge deal. Celebrate!
thank you and you’re so right!
I love how you are making every precious moment that you are with your Mother count. I know she will be cherishing your visit.
I am proud of you!
thank you…
The mother- daughter bond is a very special one. I am so glad you have been re-united.
oh my, probably the most heartwarming post I’ve read on any blog! Beautiful!
Thank you so much! It wasn’t easy to write it..
Very touching post… I got the chills when I read about her walking around the airport with your picture in her hands. Glad that you had such a good reunion!
Thanks for sharing your reunion. I have a similar story and a happy reunion after about 10 years. With a few visits in between but our reunion merged our families together which would bring a journey through forgiveness that took a process. I’m happy to have a great relationship with her now~ Mother/Daughter relationships are beautiful~
oh that’s wonderful! glad you were able to reunite and start new..
love
elena
A very touching story. Thank you for sharing this with us! You have a great gift of weaving words and photos to give your audience a feeling of being there, when the story happened. Keep writing!
Beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing.
This was so heartfelt, and I am so happy for you!
How very touching. We know about difficult mother/daughter relationships – yours was a long separation but hopefully you’re on the right track now. Enjoy your time together – we’re enjoying the story and photographs.
The most beautiful reunion I have heard of till date… Lovely…
Thank you for reading Anjali.
love & light
el
I remember when I told my mum that I was moving overseas – she was not happy; but things get easier over time. Nice post
Elena I am moved to tears. I’m not sure what or why but I’m very touched the minute I saw the pictures with the same shirt from 1995. This is a beautiful story. God bless.
Thank you.. it wasn’t an easy post to write..
we both laughed when we realized that it’s the same outfit : )
love,
lena
Mother – Daughter relationship. Complex. Beautiful. Strong. Thanks for sharing such a touching and personal story.
I am soo sooo happy for you. This is a beautiful beautiful way to meet her again after all these years. Thank you for sharing
Good for you, good for your mom. Special moments shared are truly special for a very long time.
Women and their mums can be so conflictual and hard. My mum passed away before we could clarify so much, explain so much. I am so happy for you that you got this opportunity. We must never forget they are also women as well as mothers. I hope I don’t make the same mistakes with my daughter though
Turkey is amazing, thanks for sharing this precious moment.
well said Valentina! Yes, that’s how I tried to see her as well – not just a mother but a woman. I am sorry for your loss..
love & light to you
elena
What a wonderful tribune to you mum and for your relationship, your love .. your laughter and your bond – stunning post – thanks for sharing.
Your mother made a good choice and moved to my country,Turkey.:) I hope you also liked Alanya,Turkey. I suggest you to travel İstanbul, and if you need a guide, an e-mail is enough.
(By the way, while I am writing this comment, your other website – http://www.elenalevon.com/live/ – is on and the songs are really great, now playing B.B.King)
I do not know why but while I was reading your story, I remembered Kahlil Gibran’s poem and I want to share it with you. Hope you all like…
To all mothers;
“Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you, and though they are with you, and yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward, not tarries with yesterday.
- Kahlil Gibran
from the book : The Prophet
wow! thank you so much for sharing this with me! I would love to include this piece in my post if you don’t mind.. what an absolutely incredible poem! I think I heard it somewhere before, but a long time ago..
I’m glad you’re enjoying the music on my site.. I love B.B King! – He can just sit on stage and not say a word and he shines…
I loved Alanya! Turkey is like a second home.. have been there so many times ..
Thank you for your suggestion, I would love to visit Istanbul … last time I was there just for 1 night.
love & light to you and yours !
el
Of course you can include the poem in your post, it is not mine. I think Khalid can also give permission to you to use it from other side
)
1 night is not enough for İstanbul, you should know this.
Have a great day
agree, you need to completely loose yourself in that city..
Really touching and must say nice clicks!:-)
9 years is a long time apart. good reunion
My mother is coming to stay with me for 2 months, the longest we will have been together since I left home at 22. At 16 I hated her because it was the thing to do – now I treasure every Sunday phone conversation. Enjoy your mom – this post was really touching
thank you & likewise …
love
el
It is wonderful that you’ve reconnected with your mother. You both look so happy. My own mother died in 1998, so I’ll never have the opportunity to see her or confide in her again. I do have fine memories though, for which I am grateful. I hope this trip to visit your mother will be the first of many for you. One day, she will be gone, and your opportunity will be lost to enjoy the love you two obviously share between each other. So make the best of it while you can. Blessing to you both.
I am very sorry for your loss… I understand the pain of loosing a parent. Thank you for your wish. I’ll do my best.
love
lena
Thank you for your condolences, Lena. I’ve come to accept that death is a part of life. You have to make the most of it while you can. Everything passes, including us, with time. Sad, but true.
Now a mummy myself, it really brought a tear to my eye. To family.
Beautiful, beautiful post Elena! So happy for you and your mom!
What a wonderful story, I’m so very happy for you both. All the best x