The holidays are the times when you surround yourself with people you love. Your family comes in from around the country and if you’re lucky, Christmas is filled with family, food, old stories, and cheer.

My Christmases generally follow this pattern, and for that, I am truly blessed. However, there is always one person that can’t make it to our Christmas celebrations after celebrating with us for over sixteen years…Martha.

Martha, if you know me, has had an incredible impact on my life. She took care of my sister and me for sixteen years while my parents were working. She was with us from seven in the morning to five at night every day. She was there for our first steps and first words. She was there for our first almost everything.

Martha moved away to San Francisco with her family three years ago and it literally broke my heart. Spending this much time with someone builds a bond unlike any other I have ever experienced. She became my second mother. She scolded me when need be. She kissed my booboos. She broke up fights between my sister and I. She entertained us for sixteen years. But most importantly, she loved us like her own children for sixteen years. And we loved her. And we still do.

Since I cannot spend Christmas with Martha, I have devoted this article to her. It is the least I can do after she devoted sixteen years of her life to my sister and I and our family. Martha is truly a part of our family and I miss her every day.

In addition to everything else Martha has given me, she also helped me find a passion at an early age. She taught me how to speak Spanish.

For those sixteen years Martha spent with our family, we primarily spoke Spanish at home. From seven to five, Spanish was our primary language. All of this time speaking the language was really special for me. In a way, it was my secret language with Martha. My sister could understand, but rarely put in the time to learn the language. I, on the other hand, was infatuate with this secret language. It was a part of our relationship that I cherished. No one—in our household—but us could understand.

So not only has Martha had an incredible impact on my childhood but also on what I choose to pursue in school. I am currently double majoring in English and Hispanic Studies in school. I couldn’t break away from the language no matter how much I wanted too after Martha moved away. After taking a break for two years, I found myself enrolled in a Spanish class at college. I realized I wanted to master this language, study in a country that spoke this language, and regain touch with a part of my childhood I loved so much. Instead of keeping Spanish a secret part of my life in my relationship with Martha, I wanted to immerse myself in it. I want to learn the cultures of several Spanish speaking countries. My getting closer with this part of my education, I am getting closer with Martha.

And with that, thank you, Martha.

¡Te extraño y te amo con todo mi corazón! Feliz Navidad.