My Mom
My Mom and Me
I love this photo of me and my Mom, I was about 15 months old. My Mother was wearing a bathrobe and high heels. You’ve got to love that, her hair neatly coiffed and this was first thing in the morning. She was only 20 years old in this photo. I just called her to wish her a Happy Mothers Day, I love hearing her voice and am so glad she is still here with us. You see, it’s a miracle she is still here and healthy. Almost 8 years ago she was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer, stage 4, they thought she might live 6 months to a year, that was devastating news, I couldn’t imagine life without her. With quick medical intervention which included aggressive chemotherapy, mastectomy and radiation she is now cancer free and has been for all this time. She lives far away from me and I don’t get to see her very often, she doesn’t like to travel, but we talk all the time and see each other as often as possible. She was the rock in our family, the practical one, she got us through lean times so well, we were barely aware of it. She is an amazing cook, always putting a delicious homemade meal on the table and so often she did it on a shoe string budget.
Mom is French and Scots- Irish and my Dad was Italian, she was accepted into a very Italian family, first generation in the US. My Grandfather didn’t speak English or only a few words and she was taught to cook amazing Italian food from my Aunts.
Birthday Party for my cousin
Mom won’t see this because she doesn’t have a computer and only just recently got a cell phone. On Mothers Day I like to look back and think about all the wonderful things my Mother did, how hard she worked taking care of all of us and I really love and appreciate her and I wanted to share a little bit about her with you. Here are some photo’s of some of her recipes that I have shared on this site.
Meatballs
Pasta Fagioli
Homemade pasta
Italian Cheesecake
Happy Mothers Day, I hope all of you had a wonderful day!
apuginthekitchen 
What a beautiful tribute to your mom, Suzanne. I love that first photo too. A bathrobe and heels!!! That just defines style!!
Thanks Susan, I wish I could have seen her today and doing this post was cathartic. She is such an amazing woman!
What a lovely story suzanne…..today I spent the day remembering my mom who I lost 26 years ago to lung cancer..she was a wonderful feisty woman and a phenomenal cook…so happy you still have your mom in your life,, cherish all the memories….
Pat I am so sorry, it’s so true we have to cherish the time we have. Happy Mothers Day!
I love these pictures. So happy your mom us such a fighter.
Sent from my iPhone
Thanks Maria, I am so grateful that Mare is so organized and kept all the pictures. I love to look back at them.
Your mom is a medical marvel just like my mom (who has survived three rounds of cancer in the last 10 years.) This post is a wonderful tirubute to your mom, who has obviously been a real inspiration to you.
Our Moms are cancer survivors, its a miracle really and I am so thankful for the medical team that helped her. I hope that your Mom continues to enjoy good health and remains cancer free also. Thank you.
This is such a beautiful post Suzanne. Your mum sounds like such a strong, inspiring woman. Love the fact that she wore heels with her bathrobe! A true lady! Sorry to hear about the breast cancer but I am so glad she’s going strong. My mother went through surgery, six months of chemo and another six of radiotherapy also, for a very fast-growing breast mass. She’s in the clear now though. I am so grateful for every day that I still have with her. Thanks for sharing this post with us… the gorgeous photos, words and delicious recipes are so lovely x
Wow. so you Mum also went through breast cancer. Mom was on a similar protocol, surgery first, 6 months chemo and 6 months radiation. It’s a gift every day she is here. Thanks and I hope your Mum continues to stay healthy and cancer free.
Lovely post Suzanne – you were an adorable toddler and your mother is a beautiful woman. I hope she reads your blog!
I am going to ask her to go her neighbors and use her computer. My Mom resists technology and is intimidated by computers. I am going to buy her one I think, maybe she will use it. Thank you so much.
What a beautiful homage and story telling Suzanne! I love many of your posts but I have to say, this one is now my favorite. Lovely! (loved the pix too)
Thanks Azita, after speaking to her yesterday I was compelled to write something about her. She is a treasure.
Suzanne, What a beautiful tribute to your Mom. I could feel your love for your Mom through your words. The photos are priceless. Look at the big eyes you both have! 😀 Just precious!
Thank you, my Mom is such a wonderful lady!
That is the sweetest tribute my friend 🙂
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Thanks so much, Uru!
This is such a beautiful post Suzzane! I adored it. Hope your mum had a lovely day.
She did, thank you so much. She went out to breakfast with a friend and had a nice day shopping and visiting.
What a marvellous tribute to your Mum. And how fantastic that she beat breast cancer like that 🙂 French/Scottish is an awesome combination (it’s what I am too ;-). I shall definitely be checking out her italian cheesecake recipe…
Thank you so much, I love her Italian cheesecake. Really you are French/Scotch. It is awesome.
What a wonderful and beautiful tribute to your mom!
Thanks so much Jasline.
What a beautiful post! I love the photo of you and your Mom…so glad that you still have your Mother with you!
Thank you, I am also so happy she is still with us.
What a great story, Suzanne, and I love your opening photograph! A priceless memory.
Thank you so much Stefano, I love that photo Seeing my Mom rocking those heels in her bathrobe is priceless and I look a bit confused by it all! Hoping you and Francesca had a wonderful day yesterday.
A bathrobe and heels is classic! Lovely posting!
It is totally classic. I always remember my Mom looking totally together in the morning, me, not so much. Thank you!
What a touching tribute to your Mom, Suzanne. So glad she’s still with you! And I think “bathrobe and high heels” has a nice ring to it 🙂
Maybe print out your post and mail it to her?
You know this is one of those “ah ha” moments, slapping my head, why didn’t I think of that. Yes, very good idea, I will do just that. Thank you and totally agree the high heels and bathrobe is a great!
What a very sweet post about your momma. It was very warm and really drew a nice picture of what a wonderful mom you have. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us.
Thank you, Mothers Day tends to bring out nostalgia and after speaking with her, which was nice but it really made me realize how much I miss seeing her. She was a terrific Mom.
A lovely tribute to your Mom and thanks for sharing your story. She sounds like an amazing person and what a fighter. I’m glad she is still here. The food looks terrific!
Thanks Suzie, yes my Mom is amazing and a real fighter. She is such a great cook and I have learned so much from her.
You are blessed to still have your mom after her ordeal! Lucky you! I feel the same way with my dad, after he got DVT on a flight to London about 8 years ago, too. The doctor said he’d never seen anyone alive, in his condition before!
It’s a shame your mom doesn’t see your blog, especially this post. I think you’re right, if you buy her a computer and show her how simple it is to use (even just to read your blog) she’ll change her mind. She’ll love being more connected to you, too!
I also love the fact that your mother is wearing a robe and high heels! You have a similar background to me, but I have to tell you that you want to say “Scots-Irish” and not “Scotch-Irish” since that’s the drink!! Haha! My Dad (born in Scotland) has always pointed this out to people, so now I always notice, too! 😉
Thank you so much, I know we do have a lot in common and OMG, I am so sorry for my error. Oh wow, scotch is nice but whoops, not in that context.I will change it!!! I am going to get my Mom a computer, I made the mistake of asking her if I could buy her one and she of course said no she wouldn’t use it. I will just do it and not ask.
I love the picture of you and your Mom…so sweet!
It’s my favorite picture, thank you so much,
What a lovely and touching tribute to your mother! I love what you said about her getting your family through lean times – mothers really are the strongest, most selfless people in the world, aren’t they?
Thank you, yes Mothers are the strongest and most selfless. Looking back on all that our Mothers have done is awe inspiring.
What a lovely tribute to your mom. And yes, I do love the bathrobe and high heels, and perfectly quaffed hair. Thank you for sharing the wonderful old family photos as well. I am so glad you still have her with you, especially after such a tough and brave battle!
Thank you, it’s nothing short of a miracle. The high heels and bathrobe is priceless!
That is such a great photo!
Thank you, I love it too!
This was a beautiful post and I love the photo of you and your mom.
Thanks Tina, I love that photo of me and Mom.
This is such a lovely post. Your Mum has beautiful eyes and it looks from that picture of your young self that you inherited them. What an amazing culinary heritage you have – lucky you. 😉
Thank you so much, I do look a lot like my Mom. we were a food centric family, big meals with the whole extended family every week. My Grandfather had a small vineyard and made his own wine. It was wonderful.
I used to think that people didn’t need their moms so much after they grew up. But I’ve realized that’s not true. So often, when I’m making a decision, I wish you were here so I could ask your advice.
Thank you!