For the past 33 years I have lived and worked in Africa, far from my mother who lived in Los Angeles. One night I dreamed of her as she slowly walked up the stairs to her apartment. She was a heavy woman and she walked slowly and painfully, as she reached the last step, she looked up at me and said "Baby, I'm not going to make it, I'm just too tired." The next morning I got a communication from the embassy, I worked as a contractor to USAID in the Congo. It sadly notified me of my mother's death. I realized that last night she had come to say goodbye to me, her love had transcended 10.000 miles to reach me. That's love and in truth she has never left me.