My mom passed away on October 5, 2012. Pancreatic cancer ravaged her in less than a month. It was a shock and as of today I still feel vulnerable to the idea that she is gone. I have a faith that I will see her again. In the meantime, I have been thinking about what I could do to keep her memory alive for generations to come.
Two weeks ago I had lunch with some friends. They were trying to make me feel a little more cheerful. One of them suggested  I start a cookbook of my mother's recipes. She had done that when her mother died and it had helped her through the grieving process.
It is indeed a process. I have gone back to work, I continue with my normal life, and I try not to think too much about my mom not being here any more. When I think about her I start crying. Another friend counseled me to cry whenever I feel like it. In gried crying is indeed therapeutic. It releases all these hormones that unstresses you. I always feel better after a good cry about my mom. I know I am not the only one who has lost her mother, so anyone who has knows exactly what I am going through. It's not easy but it's manageable.
To get back to the recipe book idea I have decided to do it. I emailed my whole immediate family: sister, brother, their chidlren and my children. I asked them to give me a list of the favorite recipes that Mamy made for them. I also asked my dad who feels quite lonely right now. I now have a list of about 50 recipes. My youngest daughter, Eva, and I are going to design the book and I will make Christmas gifts out of them. That will be a fitting tribute to my mother and her culinary gifts.