PANAMA, HERE I COME!

I am turning 70 years old and I am in Panama City and on my way to visit my Mother's grave site. It is June 5th, my birthday. After 70 years I will talk to her, call her Mama and know she really existed.

My daughter Jennifer is taking me as a birthday gift. It is the only thing I told her I wanted for my birthday and she said, "then Mom, I am taking you."

She and I met in Miami to board the plane for Panama. I flew down from New York and she from Los Angeles. I was teary the entire flight. I spoke to Ruth silently and told her I was coming. When we arrived in Panama City it was late in the day so we unpacked, had dinner and went to bed. The next morning we arranged for a driver to take us to the cemetery. When we arrived we were met by Mr. Phelps, the man who located her burial site and had sent me the first photo of my mother's grave stone. I remember that I could hardly breathe when I received the email and attached photo. She was found! She could actually be located. She was real! I called him that day, crying and thanking him for sending it to me. He had even gone to the trouble to rub her stone with sand so the letters would be more vivid when he took the photo.
(to be continued)