Her name meant fortress, and she was one. She had many tragedies in her life, and yet she pressed on looking and hoping for peace and joy. Maybe she did not know what it was when she had it, but she always knew that was what she wanted. She loved the fantastic and beautiful and was always proud of her looks and how she dressed. My Mother-in-law was fierce as as lion and gentle as a lamb. I must say that is a rare combination in people. She did not like me in her kitchen. I don't blame her. I let precious few aid me while I cook, but I do not know some of the recipes she made that were cultural. I will learn them from her friend who was from the same area off Serbia.
All of this a nightmare to me. I never expected her to leave this world so soon as she was the youngest of the grandparents. I look out at my life without her and wonder how I will be able to keep the cultural connections I was still hoping to learn from her. How can I serve the Slava? (Slava is the family feast day marking the day the family converted to Christianity. It is particular to Serbs.) I feel totally inadequate to take the role as the matriarch How can I be that? I don't know how to do that! I don't feel like I learned enough from her to do any of this.
May her memory be eternal.
1 comment:
May her memory be eternal. She has been in my prayers, as are you and your boys. I'm so sorry for this tremendous loss to your family. My grandma passed after a brief illness when she was 58. She made the worlds best butter tarts that have never been replicated since. One of these days I'm going to give her recipe a try again...but she had a magic touch and hers were always perfect. I guess if our loved ones contributions could be easily replicated, they would not be as precious. ((((hugs))))
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