Preserving a well-lived life through food memories
I cooked my way through the first few weeks after my mom’s unexpected passing in August 2023. I spent a few weeks at my family’s house helping my dad tend to all of the sad, but necessary responsibilities that we had to prioritize: communicating the news to extended friends and past colleagues, the bank, the insurance company, magazines that she subscribed to…our to-do list was long. While we made our way through the list, it felt soothing to cook in her kitchen, to use the remains of things she left in the fridge, to bake scones for my dad that she prepped and froze for us just the week before. I couldn’t bring myself to cook our favorites yet, but I had this rising fear that I would forget all of our recipes, all of our traditions without her there to remind me every time (What did we put out on our Thanksgiving table again? How do I make my grandmother’s Italian Wedding Soup? Did I ever write down our annual Christmas cookies list?).
I’m continually overwhelmed by how to preserve her memory, how to remain close to her going forward, and how to record our food memories for myself and family, so I accurately pass on our traditions and build on them.
Food, memories, and grief are intricately intertwined for many. Through this site, I hope to find ways to celebrate – and preserve – our memories and work my through this first year without my mom.
Ari
This is absolutely beautiful and a great way to always remember the joy of cooking and family traditions . Mary is so proud of her beautiful daughter. Duck said today that you have your mom’s heart
Thank you for including us on this journey
❤️
I feel honored to be able to enjoy this site with you and so glad I got to meet her and enjoy a joyful celebration… my heart reaches out and I know personally holidays are the most difficult to get through 💖
I’m so so glad you got to meet her too, Maggie! I appreciate your kind words <3
Dear Ari, Melissa was kind enough to share with me the link to your new blog. Your writing is beautiful, sensitive, heartfelt. How creative and thoughtful a way to pay tribute to the relationship you and your mother shared, and to keep it alive through memories of the traditional foods you made together and served together at your holiday table. I think she must be proud of the productive, positive way forward you have chosen.
I have no experience with blogging, and don’t even know how to follow your blog. Could you help me, as I would be sad to miss any of these very meaningful entries? Am thinking of you and wish you only positive results with your honorable intention. With love, (Aunt) Gini
Aww, thank you <3. I am still learning my way through blogging and need to add in a way to subscribe/follow the site. I will let you know once I add it! Thanks for reading along.
Hi Aunt Gini, I added a “Subscribe” option on the homepage and throughout the site. You can just type in your email address and you will receive a notification each time a new post is added!
Thank you for helping me navigate the finer points of accessing blogs! Can’t wait to follow your journey, Ari. It means much to me, to feel I am getting to know you in a meaningful way. Much love to you and Tim🦋💕
Thank you for honoring Mary, and sharing her love of family, food, cooking and traditions with all of us, Ari! How perfect Mary would love that we are staying connected through recipes she cherished and nourished so many with over the years. I look forward to all that you will be gifting us with. I love uou, and thank you 🥰
It’s so true, Aunt Donna. Love you!