My Mom passed away last month and I had my first birthday without her 3 1/2 weeks later. Ironically I wasn't home for it because we were out of state having her cremains buried in my Dad's grave. I'm glad I wasn't home. Even in her 80's, my Mom still cooked me a special meal and baked me Black Forest cake for my birthday. I dreaded the idea of not celebrating with her. When we got home, my teenage kids baked me a Black forest cake because Grandma always did. I think that we'll keep her memory alive by keeping up as many of her traditions as possible.
