This month tragedy struck our lives. We have had painful losses. None of us are immune from it. My girls also lost their one and only favorite great-grandma. It’s their first experience losing someone close to them, and they described it as very tragic. They are very, very sad. We are a very close-knit family, and the girls had spent a lot of time with their Gigi.

Gigi also lived with us for some time, allowing the girls to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. They took part in caring for their then 92-year-old grandma, and she, in turn, spoiled them rotten. Gigi woke up early to see them off to school. She waited by the porch to greet them when they returned. They loved Taco Dinners on Dancing with the Stars night. And she often treated them to ice creme. Gigi loved to eat, and she loved ice creme outing with the girls.

Great-grandma lived to be 95 years and passed away peacefully surrounded by her children and grandchildren. What a finish! She attributed to her long life a banana a day and rum & coke at night.

In my opinion, her secret to a long life was more than that.

•  Never say a bad word about anybody. (even if they wronged you)
•  A family that cooks and eats together stays together. That woman cooked until we banned her from cooking. And she fed everybody.
• Unconditional love. No expectation. She had 35 grand and great-grandchildren, and she loved them all equally.
• Flirt occasionally. (Why not? Right? )
• Save the planet. ( Gigi recycled everything. She always said if you don’t do your part, the earth will be a big garbage pile)
• Keep your opinions to yourself.
• Listen to everybody.
• See good in yourself and others.
• Eat lots of icecreams.

Nourish your soul with love and food. Family & friends will organically gather around you. Cook with love. Serve with humility.

Our grammy always cooked with love. She cooked and fed everyone she could even on a limited budget. Every time we visited her, we had the best cookies waiting for us besides big dinners. This week we will be baking lots of cookies in her memory and eating lots of ice creme and cinnamon rolls.  The best way to nourish your soul when you lose someone you love is to cook and eat with your family. What do you do?