A ngelica Zuniga will have already celebrated Mother's Day by the time you read this column.

That's because May 10 is when it's celebrated in her native country, and she has a lot to celebrate. She has three children she calls "good" and "smart," plus three grandchildren. Her youngest child, Nancy, a Longview High School senior, has a scholarship that will help pave the way for her to attend Texas College and play soccer.

Those are pretty big stars in Angelica's crown — Angelica who came here illegally in 1979 at age 15 to find work so she could help her family who often went without food.

She took jobs at cafeterias and fast food joints, kept just enough of her earnings to cover her food and rent and sent the rest home to San Luis Potosi, Mexico, every two weeks.

Then, the Alien Legalization Program dawned in the 1980s and Angelica, with the help of her mentor, Diana Jackson, learned English and navigated the waters to citizenship.

She also met Bernardo, fell in love and married him. They had three children: Laura, Bernardo Jr., and Nancy.

Even after she married, she continued to work to help her family back in Mexico. Then, Angelica began cleaning houses for a living. That allowed her to set her own schedule. It was important to her to be there when the kids came home from school. She admits she never really liked cleaning houses — still doesn't — but that didn't matter because her kids took top priority.

Her eyes sparkle when she speaks of their successes. Laura, an honor student throughout school, is a medical assistant. Bernardo Jr., is completing his course of study at Kilgore College and working a full-time job.

And Nancy, her own dark eyes and contagious laugh reflecting her mother's, was a standout player for the Lady Lobos soccer team.

"Truly, I never liked school," Angelica confesses, but her kids, "they're smart."

As we talked last week, Angelica and

Nancy moved easily from Spanish to English and back again, from thoughtful reflection to tears to laughter.

I've known Angelica and her family since moving to Longview in 1990. She won't say her life's been hard but I know it hasn't always been easy. She was widowed just a few years ago when Bernardo Sr. died suddenly.

I asked her what Mother's Day means to her and she says, "My life is fulfilled through the successes of my children."

She said she is fortunate that God blessed her with good children as well as what she calls her own "small" career.

Asked what her children had planned for the day, the twinkle returns to her eyes and so does the dazzling grin. "I hope they spoil me."

She's looking forward to a meal at one of her favorite restaurants — Mexican — and opening gifts. "I can't wait."

I asked her about the current anti-immigrant fervor in the United States.

It's not only native-born Americans who want to provide for their children, she says. "We come here to work. That's all. ... Families simply want a better future for their children."

Nancy is excited about college. She wants to major in business but she could change her mind, she adds. It's evident she's anxious to explore a new academic world, but she has a serious side as well. The tears flow freely when she talks about losing her father at age 11. "Everything I'm doing is to show him I love him. I want him to look down on me and say 'that's my girl.' I want to make him and my mom happy."

Despite her loss, Nancy considers herself fortunate. "I don't take for granted what I have. I appreciate it," she says. "Expensive things can't make you smarter or happy."

So how does Angelica feel about her youngest leaving the nest? The twinkle and the grin return, "I want her to realize she's gonna miss me."

I suspect that feeling is mutual.

Feliz Dia de las Madres.

Ana Pecina Walker is editor of the Longview News-Journal. E-mail: awalker@longview-news.com.