A year has gone by since the passing of my Mother. This posting is dedicated to her memory.

A loving mother, wife and friend. My mother loved her family-there's no denying that. Mom was fun-loving and classy. She was the proudest person that I knew.

My mother and I weren't as close as I would have liked. I guess looking back there's really not a clear reason. If I had to try to analyze it for a reason, (believe me, I have) I would say that she and I were alike in all the ways that drove each other crazy. We clashed. Her stubborn pride and mine just butted heads at every turn. It's the age old tale...Mother's and Daughter's.

My mother influenced my life in many ways. She was full of life and spunk. She was an elegant woman. My mother was the best cook ever. My watching her in the kitchen creating her "Masterpieces", I believe, gave me my love and appreciation of the "Art of Cooking". She was a wonderful seamstress and used to make many of our clothes when we were young. I followed in her footsteps in that respect when my guys were toddlers. The one thing that my mother and I agreed on totally? "Presentation is Everything".

I could go on and on, but the bottom line is that my mother and my relationship with her helped to mould me into the person that I am today...of that I am truly grateful.

Mom, you are Missed and Loved.