Wiser With Age

Tag: Victoria Moll-Ramirez

  • In my Mother’s Words: 6 greatest moments in 61 years

    In my Mother’s Words: 6 greatest moments in 61 years


    My mom celebrated her 61st birthday on Tuesday. Thankfully, she’s still hanging out with me in NYC until I get my apartment and am all settled. I decided to ask her what her top six moments of the last 61 years have been. Here you go (in chronological order and not necessarily order of importance):

    1. Her wedding day – My mother has always said her wedding day really was one of the best memories of her life. She remembers being full of hopes, dreams and excitement.
      A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    2. The day she gave birth to each of us – My mom loves us limitlessly. She says despite the painful experience of child birth, and how hard it is to raise kids, she wouldn’t have it any other way. I tell ya, we aren’t easy cookies so there’s a lot of love and patience there.
      A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    3. The day my brother and I each graduated college – For my mother this was her American dream. All she wanted was to raise two professionals. We did it!
      A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    4. Visiting the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in Lourdes, France - My mom is a very devout Catholic and says ever since she was a little girl she dreamt of traveling to Lourdes but never thought it’d be possible. Thankfully, she checked it off her bucket list. (photo credit: Mom)
      A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    5. Seeing my grandmother turn 91 – My grandmother is not only 91 but is as healthy as a horse. She’s a little frail like most of us would be, but has a sharp tongue paired with sharp wit. She went to the doctor a few weeks ago and tried hitting on the man! Here she is surrounded by mariachis on her 91st in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
      A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    6. Vacationing in Argentina with my brother and I- This was probably the most surprising one for me. She told me that for her “eso fue lo máximoâ€Â (it was awesome). When I asked her why, she said she never imagined us being all together on vacation somewhere like Argentina. When we were younger we didn’t go on vacation and any trips were to Honduras to see family. It was a fun treat to be all together…sipping on wine…lots of wine.
      A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.

    From listening to her I was reminded of the importance of gratitude. She’s so thankful for all of these experiences. She’s humbled by so many of them and realizes how fortunate we are. She doesn’t feel entitled or like these are experiences she’s earned. She’s just grateful.

    The crazy thing is five out of her six best moments have happened in the last 31 years. As usual, she reminds me it’s never too late.

    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.Victoria Moll-Ramirez is a broadcast journalist based in New York City. She is originally from Miami, FL and had the great fortune of being raised by the sassiest, spunkiest, wisest, most hysterical Honduran woman in the world. Victoria’s mother, Bélgica, is 60-years-old, resides in Little Havana (Miami) and enjoys a good margarita accompanied by a heartrending ranchera. Victoria blogs about her mom’s funny and wise sayings on, “In My Mother’s Words.â€

  • In my Mother’s Words: Coming home safe

    In my Mother’s Words: Coming home safe


    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.

    I went back and forth about whether or not I should make this week’s post about this. Many times when something strikes a chord with me I want to write it down. It wasn’t until I received a phone call from my best friend that I realized I needed to do it.

    I’ve recently moved to New York City, and my best friend was calling me to catch up. The second question out of her mouth was, “Amiga – can I tell you how happy I am you’re not out in the field anymore after what happened with that reporter yesterday?â€

    No, I’ve never been a reporter. But, I have field produced quite a bit. As a field producer you essentially do the same thing a reporter does except stand in front of the camera – you gather video and spend endless hours with a photographer, find interviews, get information confirmed, talk to officials, etc.

    In my new role, I’m in-house more. I get to write, and still work with correspondents, I’m just not out in the field. When I told my mom what my friend had said, she told me the same thing crossed her mind yesterday. Her words to me were:

    “Tu no sabes como yo he rezado. Cuando mire eso ayer dije, ‘Gracias a Dios que Victoria ya no esta en el field.’â€

    (â€You have no idea how much I’ve prayed. When I saw that yesterday I said, ‘Thank God Victoria isn’t out in the field anymore!’â€)

    I’m a firm believer that you can’t be controlled by fear. I also didn’t realize anyone would correlate yesterday’s events with me. My mom’s words made me remember how happy she is every time I get a new job. If I’m stressed out and unhappy with work, she’s stressed out and unhappy for me. Whatever I feel, she feels.

    I didn’t know Alison Parker or Adam Ward. But, this business is so small I know someone who knew Alison. That friend of mine is distraught. We’ve all been distraught and in a daze. As my friend told me, “She was just doing her job.†They paid the ultimate price for that job.

    I never really imagined my mom worried that much about me when I was out in the field. Moms always worry, that’s what they do. It taught me that sometimes when you’re out living your dream, your mom is back home praying you come home safe.

    Rest in peace, Alison and Adam, aka “The A-Team.â€

    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.Victoria Moll-Ramirez is a broadcast journalist based in New York City. She is originally from Miami, FL and had the great fortune of being raised by the sassiest, spunkiest, wisest, most hysterical Honduran woman in the world. Victoria’s mother, Bélgica, is 60-years-old, resides in Little Havana (Miami) and enjoys a good margarita accompanied by a heartrending ranchera. Victoria blogs about her mom’s funny and wise sayings on, “In My Mother’s Words.â€

  • In My Mother’s Words: Love for your kids

    In My Mother’s Words: Love for your kids


    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.

    Putting into words how much you love someone can be really hard. The love is sometimes so powerful, you’re left speechless.

    One of the most beautiful explanations my mom has used to describe her love for us came as a response to a bit of a smart answer I gave her.

    She’s always said my brother and I are her lungs, without us she cannot breathe. One day I said to her:

    “Bueno, uno puede vivir con un pulmón.â€

               (Well, you can live with one lung.)

    She replied:

    “Si, pero no vuelves a ser la misma.â€

              (Yes, but you’re never the same.)

    Her response made me think, and I always remember it. It taught me how much you can mean to someone. You always know your mom loves you, but when it’s compared to something essential, like your lungs, you pause and really reflect.

    I, too, honestly feel like I cannot breathe without my mother. In times of happiness, she’s there smiling ear-to-ear, in times of sadness, she holds my hand, and in challenging times, we love each other and stay positive.

    Certain weeks, you feel really lucky and blessed. This week, I’m grateful for breathing room.

    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.Victoria Moll-Ramirez is a broadcast journalist based in Atlanta, GA. She is originally from Miami, FL and had the great fortune of being raised by the sassiest, spunkiest, wisest, most hysterical Honduran woman in the world. Victoria’s mother, Bélgica, is 60-years-old, resides in Little Havana (Miami) and enjoys a good margarita accompanied by a heartrending ranchera. Victoria blogs about her mom’s funny and wise sayings on, “In My Mother’s Words.â€

  • In my Mother’s Words: People and looks

    In my Mother’s Words: People and looks


    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    Victoria with her mom while traveling in Medellin, Colombia.

    You know how sometimes you like a guy or a girl, and they’re not incredibly good looking, but not hideous either? Sometimes you don’t even know how to describe them!

    My mother always tries to see the best in people, and like most mothers, her words may sound mean, but then you laugh and realize it’s not such a bad way of putting it either.

    Typically, when my mother sees someone and finds herself in the same position I do when describing someone not gorgeous but not hideous, she tells me:

    “No es bonito/a que encanta ni feo/a que espanta.â€

             (Translation: Neither cute enough to charm nor ugly enough to harm.)

    I know this sounds harsh at first, but it’s also kind of hysterical. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been able to describe someone that way, and it totally makes sense to whomever I’m speaking with.

    Let’s be honest, most people aren’t drop dead gorgeous, or drop dead hideous. In the end, it’s all in good fun, because as my mom always reminds me it’s the inside that counts.

    Moms really do say the darndest things.

    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.Victoria Moll-Ramirez is a broadcast journalist based in Atlanta, GA. She is originally from Miami, FL and had the great fortune of being raised by the sassiest, spunkiest, wisest, most hysterical Honduran woman in the world. Victoria’s mother, Bélgica, is 60-years-old, resides in Little Havana (Miami) and enjoys a good margarita accompanied by a heartrending ranchera. Victoria blogs about her mom’s funny and wise sayings on, “In My Mother’s Words.â€

     

  • In My Mother’s Words: 60 and fabulous

    In My Mother’s Words: 60 and fabulous


    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.
    Belgica en La Ciudad Vieja de Cartagena de Indias.

    My mother and I got back from a two week vacation in South America yesterday. We spent time in Colombia and Argentina. We’ve done mother/daughter trips before and always have a great time. However, this is our first trip since she retired. This time we had a FABULOUS experience.

    It’s amazing how much her demeanor has changed since retiring. It’s almost as if she got 25+ years back. In Colombia, she reunited with a great friend after 19 years. We went to Medellin and Cartagena. She bought herself a hat, and I lent her a pair of my sunglasses. That was the beginning of this new side of her I had never seen.

    After Colombia, we headed to Argentina and met up with my brother in Buenos Aires. We hung out and even did a free walking tour. During the tour, you walk across what (some) Argentine’s claim is the world’s widest avenue – 9 de Julio. Naturally, as my mother and I are trying to hurry up and cross, I suggest we take a selfie. Like I said, she never says no.

    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.

     

    When we landed at the Miami airport on the way home, my mom told me how she remembered the first time she landed there when she immigrated from Honduras. In the last few years she’s traveled the world. An opportunity she’s certain she wouldn’t of gotten had she stayed in her homeland.

    You know sometimes people teach you the greatest lessons by not saying anything at all. I just observed her. She never got tired of walking. She never said no when I’d ask her to go sit at a bar with me. She was honestly more fun than most other people I’ve traveled with!

    I told my brother that being with my mom shows me it’s never too late. After this trip, I’ve learned I need to try not to constantly feel like I need to rush or am running out of time. If I can be a quarter as fabulous and fun as my mom is when I’m 60, then in reality, I will have wasted no time at all.

    A woman with short hair wearing red necklace.Victoria Moll-Ramirez is a broadcast journalist based in Atlanta, GA. She is originally from Miami, FL and had the great fortune of being raised by the sassiest, spunkiest, wisest, most hysterical Honduran woman in the world. Victoria’s mother, Bélgica, is 60-years-old, resides in Little Havana (Miami) and enjoys a good margarita accompanied by a heartrending ranchera. Victoria blogs about her mom’s funny and wise sayings on, “In My Mother’s Words.â€