Meriem Benchalha, 18, Essaouira. She was born during the 60’s, she was very artistic, she was beautiful inside out. I loved everything about her, and how could I not, she was my mother, yes, was, she passed away a couple of years ago. But I’m not here to talk about how she died, I’m here to give you a glimpse of her life, and how she made me the young active slightly annoying girl that I am today. My mom had a passion for embroidery since she was a little girl, it’s a very well known art in Morocco, and it’s used to decorate everything from pillows and sheets to clothes and bags and also shoes. My mother used her skills and talent to work with a tailor who owned a little shop in midtown Essaouira, or as they call it: the city of wind. The tailor was known for making traditional Moroccan wear including jallabas as well as caftans, and after years of my mom and the tailor working together, sharing a passion, a career, and a lot of time, they got married and had three daughters, including myself, so as you might have guessed by now the tailor is my dad. My mother was well respected among her friends and customers, due to her amazing, and flawless work, and the time and effort she puts in every peace she makes, she was a perfectionist, but in a good way, as she would give every project she’s working on the time, power, and creativity it deserves, and that’s something people appreciated about her. My mom worked on raising me, and my sisters to become strong and independent females.
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