Mother & Daughter Reunion.
by Lena
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 …

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? ..
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Alanya and Taurus Mountains as seen from Villa Turka – http://www.hotelvillaturka.com
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
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The woman behind the words …
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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.
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
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!
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..
The mother- daughter bond is a very special one. I am so glad you have been re-united.
I am proud of you!
thank you…
I love how you are making every precious moment that you are with your Mother count. I know she will be cherishing your visit.
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!
What a beautiful story and location! I’m so glad everything went well for the two of you.
Wow, great story.
What great post….
just beautiful 🙂
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing.
Such a touching story, thanks 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
Awesome! What a wonderful reunion. Thanks so much for sharing.
Awesome! Looks like a wonderful reunion. Thanks for sharing.
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
beautiful… charming… elegant!
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 🙂
Awh this was beautiful Elena 🙂
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.
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 ..
both from word & pic very delight.
This is such a wonderful story and reunion! You are such beautiful ladies!
thank you so much, Susie!!
Lovely. So glad you were able to visit.
What a great story!
Beautiful story and wonderful pictures!
Such a great story!! Thank you for sharing this! So great!
Oh my gosh. Wonderfully spoken. Thank you for sharing.
Gave me the chills. Looks like a beautiful meeting spot and an even more beautiful story.