This Sunday, my Mom would have been 55. She died all too early at age 40 after a battle with breast cancer that robbed her of the ability to accomplish all her goals in life. The cancer weakened her physically, but it taught her to be a fighter — to bear the side effects ofContinue reading “14 years later, still finding signs that Mom’s with me”
Tag Archives: Mom
When moms say ‘you’re gorgeous,’ they mean ‘I love you’
I like to think that my Mom, who died of breast cancer when I was 11, sends me signs. When I’m thinking about her or am in need of a hug, I’ll sometimes hear Sarah McLachlan’s “I Will Remember You” — the song she dedicated to me before she died — on the radio. OnContinue reading “When moms say ‘you’re gorgeous,’ they mean ‘I love you’”
Finding the (real) recipe for mom’s macaroni and cheese
This week I started reading “Stuffed,” a food memoir by Patricia Volk. The book is a tribute to Volk’s family members and the food they made her growing up. Each chapter, which is named after a special type of food, is about a different family member. One of the things I love about the bookContinue reading “Finding the (real) recipe for mom’s macaroni and cheese”
Thanks for Your Race for the Cure Donations
I wanted to thank everyone who helped me raise money for the Race for the Cure. I ended up exceeding y $1,000 goal and raising $1,285, the majority of which will go toward local nonprofit organizations that offer screenings, breast health education, and treatment projects for those who are medically underserved. About 25 percent ofContinue reading “Thanks for Your Race for the Cure Donations”
Running the Komen Race for the Cure in Honor of my Mom, Aunt
On Oct. 2, I’ll be running in the Florida Suncoast Komen Race for the Cure. It’s a race that’s near and dear to my heart, as my mother and my maternal aunt both died of breast cancer at a young age. My mom was only 39 when she passed away, and my aunt was inContinue reading “Running the Komen Race for the Cure in Honor of my Mom, Aunt”
Road to Recovery Requires Time, Patience, Willingness to Share Your Story
Last winter, I heard from a volunteer at Germaine Lawrence, the all-girls residential facility where I was treated for anorexia from September 1999 to January 2000. The volunteer, named Andy, wanted to see if he could interview me for a video project he was putting together for Germaine Lawrence’s 30th anniversary gala. Of course IContinue reading “Road to Recovery Requires Time, Patience, Willingness to Share Your Story”
Mother-Daughter Song Stirs Memories of Happier Times with Mom
Not long ago, I rediscovered a tape of me and my mom singing together. We had made up the song together the night before Mother’s Day when I was about 7 or 8, and I recorded it on my Fisher Price tape player. Now at age 25 I treasure the song. It’s the only recordingContinue reading “Mother-Daughter Song Stirs Memories of Happier Times with Mom”
Personal Essay Sparks Reaction from Dad, Friends, Strangers
When I published a personal essay about my mom and food last week, I wondered what people would say — or if they’d say anything at all. To my surprise, though, the response has been overwhelming. Friends, coworkers, former teachers and strangers have commented on my blog and sent me Facebook messages, Tweets and e-mails.Continue reading “Personal Essay Sparks Reaction from Dad, Friends, Strangers”
How Losing My Mom Led Me to Neglect a Hungry Heart
Last month, I mentioned that I had begun a Poynter course on personal essay writing. My goal in the course was to write an essay about how the death of my mother has affected my relationship with food — today and in the immediate aftermath of her death. This isn’t an easy subject for me toContinue reading “How Losing My Mom Led Me to Neglect a Hungry Heart”
Pursuing the ‘Craft of the Personal Essay’
Personal essay writing has always been my saving grace. When the spoken word fails, when I have the urge to get out my feelings, when I want to preserve a memory, I write. In recent years, I’ve written a lot of personal essays that touch upon universal themes — mother-daughter relationships, loss and healing. IContinue reading “Pursuing the ‘Craft of the Personal Essay’”
Word on the Street 