Ain’t No Party like a Mama Berna Party
The below is a speech I originally planned to say at my Mom’s Retirement party. Because we were all too busy dancing and eating good food, I never had the chance to deliver it; therefore, I will blog it here:
Hello Everyone,
Let’s give a round of an applause to Bernie!
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Ashley. You might be able to tell from Bernadette’s strong genes, that I’m her mini-me, and second daughter. My older sister, Stacey, has been the one playing Mozart and Beethoven when you walked in.
I’m so happy that we’re here to celebrate my Mom. She goes by many names, Bernadette, Bernie, Berns, but my personal favorite is Mama Berna. She’s truly one of a kind.
I need a little help from the amazing group of people here:
Can you raise your hand if:
My Mom has ever cooked for you?
You think Mama Berna’s retirement plans should include becoming a private chef?
Everyone here knows my Mom is an incredible cook, caring nurse, hard-worker, OCD clean fanatic, wonderful friend, and a loving mother and wife.
A little about my Mom’s journey as a nurse, (destined as a Filipina):
Most recently, Mama Berna would arrive to Broward Health Medical Center by 5:30-5:45 am after a 40-ish minute drive from Pembroke Pines to Fort Lauderdale. She’d show up like a fashionista: cute scrubs, cool shoes, and of course, her Tina Turner hair.
She made countless friends with her same day surgery crew. She was even the nurse for handful of my friends, who’d always share that Mama Berna was the best nurse.
My Mom had been an LPN for several years. I know everyone in this room knows LPN means, licensed practical nurse. But our family joked that it stood for, “Low Paid Nurse.”
So, my Mom set out to become an RN, registered nurse….Or as the Oswald’s would say, “Rich Nurse.”
Since my late elementary school years, I remember my Mom would work night shifts, come home to sleep during the day, wake up from naps to study, and go to nursing school part-time. Somehow, she still found a way to support us with soccer and piano. And of course, cook delicious dinners.
I want to share a story about my Mom:
It’s 2005.
I’m in 6th grade.
My Mom has just taken her NCLEX, which is the exam that determines whether she levels up from being an LPN to an RN.
It was a random school day.
My Mom woke me up early.
She shook me from my slumber. I was startled. Not because my sleep was cut short, but because my Mom was crying. She was hysterically sad and told me, “Ash, I didn’t pass.”
She was heart broken.
I was confused.
Up until that morning, I’ve never seen my Mom fail at something. I’ve always seen her as the one who can accomplish anything because of her discipline and relentless hard work. She jokes that she’s the jack of all trades, master of none. But truthfully, she masters anything she sets her mind too.
I consoled my Mom and told her it would be okay.
I was bummed and hated to part ways with her, but 6th grade called.
Thrown off, I continued the day and went to school.
Then, I got really confused when I went to lunch, and Mama Berna was standing in the cafeteria. Behold, a huge smile on her face as she embraced me with a hug: “Ash, I checked too early this morning. I checked again, and I passed! I did it!”
As a Filipino, checking her NCLEX status should’ve been the one time she was late to something.
Back then, I was too young to register how that morning was going to change our family’s lives.
My Mom became a Register Nurse.
Bernadette was officially a “Rich Nurse.”
She’d continue her journey as an RN at Memorial Hospital and Broward Health for over two decades.
Mom, you have cared for tens of thousands of patients. You’ve been the matriarch of this family and taught me and Stacey to be strong woman.
I actually had to bargain with her to have an opportunity to speak at this retirement party. I asked for 5 minutes, she said 3….So, I gotta be quick….
Mom, as you’ve leveled up one more time as an RRN - retired registered nurse - I hope in this next chapter, you: enjoy all the free time, take adventures to every continent, have laughs with Fred, spend time with family and friends, and become a private chef.
There’s a few things I know how to say in Tagalog. A majority of which, I cannot share tonight, but one thing I can, is “Mahal Kita” Mama Berna. I love you, we love all you.
