Written by Dennis Harvell
Just like the vibrant colors of the blooming flowers, my mother’s love has always brought beauty and joy to life.
The 6 train rattles through the Bronx just like it always has, but today, the world slowed down for a moment. I looked up and saw a stranger—not a twin of yours, but someone who carried your light. It was in the curve of her smile and the warmth of her expression; for a fleeting second, it felt like looking at a reflection of home.
It reminded me that even though you are watching from a better place you still find ways to show up in the middle of my everyday life.
Last year, I spoke of the vibrant colors of blooming flowers that represented your love. This year, I realize that your beauty doesn’t just grow in gardens—it moves through the city. It lives in the kindness of a stranger’s face and the strength I feel when I think of you.
To me, you remain the guiding star that navigates me through this sometimes lonely world. Your presence is the “Bronx Hero” of our family story—resilient, beautiful, and everlasting.
Happy Birthday, Ma. I feel you in the breeze, I see you in the flowers, and today, I saw you in a smile on the uptown train.
