12/16/07

because of her...

 

I know what love is. For the last nine days, I have thought of nothing but the pain and the loss of the family of Carrie Ann Cascarano Schmidt. I just can't get her and her family out of my mind and my thoughts.

Today I woke up at 6 am like most days (thankfully Nate did not wake up bouncing at 2 or 3 or 4) and I thought of nothing but cooking. To my family, Italian food is not just food, it is love. My Mom left a legacy to me of the love of cooking. When she spent a day cooking for you, you knew she loved you, really loved you. Today, I made tons of sauce, meatballs, sausage and lasagna to share with Stacey's family and also my family. While I was chopping this morning, my son Nick came downstairs and asked me what I was doing. I told him I was making Nana Pat's Italian food to give to our friends, to comfort them. The first thing he said was, how can I help? This touched me more than I can say. I put him in charge of finely grating the Pecorino Romano and the Parmigianno Regianno cheeses, making sure he knew that not just any "cheese" would do. Nana insisted on only the BEST! We will carry on her legacy of love by cooking like she did and letting everyone know that it's not just food, it's love that goes into these dishes.

This picture of my Mom is priceless to me. I have it enlarged in my kitchen so she is with me always. I took this picture the last time she visited us in Arizona. Less than a year later she died. I will miss her everyday for the rest of my life.
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5 comments:

Anonymous said...

My eyes are filled with tears....I'm so happy you have this wonderful memory of your Mom and my beautiful Aunt Pat!!!

She's watching you right now and smiling as big as she is in the photo because she knows that she has an amazingly caring, loving & compasionate daughter!!!

I'm also so sorry to hear of the loss of your friend's sister. The comfort you are giving to her family is needed and apprieciated, I'm sure!

Love, Smiles, Hugs & Kisses!!!
My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Love you, Kelley

Anonymous said...

I can so relate to how cooking translates to love! Coming from a large Italian family myself my grandmother would never let you leave her house unless she stuffed you full! :)

I'm going to have to try those meatballs...those are my favorites! Thanks again and again Lori for all you have done...it has been awesome and filled with love and I'm very grateful.

I love the idea of your mom's picture blown up in your kitchen...I have a large photo of my dad in my laundry room...LOL...so when I fold clothes I can look at his picture and it makes me smile.

Hugs...

Anonymous said...

Lori darlin,
So glad that your Mom keeps you company everyday as you do the simplest things to show your family that you love them as well. I remember Brindon and I making mounds of sugar cookies and she eating half the dough. We did them often and all through the year and I so remember those fun and loving times with her always. It is great to bring such a "tradition" into your family and to another to soothe and calm them. A Mom is many things to a child, but their unconditional love is something that we all need and hope to pass down to our children. Your in my thoughts and prayers dear one.
Hugs from a small frozen town,
Jann
Jann

Anonymous said...

I read this today after 'my' Dan Fogelberg's death yesterday. I was going to blog about him, but I couldn't. In a way you did it for me. Speaking of our loved one's passing on. I feel for stacey and her family and I know it is still hard for you especially around the holidays without your mom. I didn't count how many times you said legacy in your post, but Legacy reminds me of Dan it is a line from one of his most famous songs...the name of his official website fan club is "the Living Legacy". Thanks for sharing your mom and your thoughts and your support to all who need you.
Miss you...
love you...
kelly

Kim Ross said...

On a Friday not so long ago, we sat and chatted about a combination scrapbook/cookbook. My goal is to work on it throughout the year with photos of various dishes made, the old bowl mom mixed it in, etc. I know I'll have to work through tears at times, but it'll be worth it. I hope you'll work on one too. We can do it together, perhaps? :)

Love you,
Kim R.