My mother from the  the 50’s

As Passover and Easter come along  I am thinking about family traditions. If you just ask me do I have any family traditions I would say no but after thinking about it realize that I do. My family celebration have usually been small affairs, very small and have consisted of my mother and myself for years; and usually   consisted of me lounging around and her cooking up a storm, 5 or six dishes at least. She would pop up every once and a while and ask me to do something really simple like make a salad or drain the vegetables. After she passed away, almost 7 years ago, it was just me and my son. For he first few years after she passed, I invited myself to different friends celebrations wanting a lot of people and activity for my son. As I went to different people’s houses I missed what the holidays were to me turkey, my mother’s 5 cheese mac and cheese and candied sweet potatoes,  which almost no body liked. The first Thanksgiving we stayed home and I cooked her usual menu, it just felt right. I went back to her table with those dishes. Since then we usually stay home and I cook and ask my son to do this and that. Just like it used to be. My friends are usually shocked that I am at home “by myself” during the holidays with just my son. What they don’t know is that I have my mother with me with each bite of food.

He looks a little grumpy in the picture. I am happy enough for the both of us