I'd copy them and then proceed with your original idea - during chats with relatives you send them to you might come across the ideal person who would really treasure the originals and who might have someone to eventually pass them on to. I'm very sentimental and it sounds like you are too, but not everyone is. We have a couple of recipes scratched out on the backs of envelopes and things like that from my grandmother, but that's it. My sister actually made my mother write out some of her basic recipes - gravy, meatballs, alia oglio, etc., by hand and give us all a set so we'd have them in her handwriting because of those few scraps being all we have from our mother's mother. Anyway, I think that's a great idea, and even tho you don't have someone to hand them down to, someone who gets the copies as they're passed along might contact you and want the originals. At least that way you know they'll be treasured and passed along and not end up being thrown away or lost or damaged. And the notes your mom added to them will make them even more special. But when you get right down to it, the recipes themselves and the joy they'll bring to people who prepare them, then share them with their families and friends are the most important part. But like anything, having something original, written in the person's hand, always makes it more special. Lisa

Hi Wendy, I came across this site and just wanted to get in touch with you because your experience sounds a lot like mine. My mom passed away about 6 weeks ago very unexpectedly. I'm 18 and the night before I was supposed to leave for college something went wrong with her heart. My dad and I did CPR on her until the ems team came. After working on her for about 45 minutes, all the way to the hospital, she kind of had a pulse. They finally kind of got a heart beat going and hooked her up to all sorts of machines. She couldn't hear me, see me, talk to me, feel me...she couldn't do anything. She had gone too long without oxygen to her brain, and the damage was irreversible. 3 days later we had to make the decision to take her off life support. My aunt and grandfather wanted to be with her and they said it took less than two minutes for her to go. I was so close with my mom and it's so hard without her. I was always her little baby. On her last day in the hospital, the nurse moved her over in her bed so I could cuddle with her one last time. I'm at college now, but the only reason I was able to come is because my boyfriend is here and he is a huge help to me. I haven't been home yet so it feels like she will just be there waiting for me when I go home this weekend. I'm so scared for everything to actually start to click in. It used to be so hard for me to be away from her. I couldn't even go to a two week camp one summer in high school without actually getting sick because of being so homesick for her. Now I have to live the whole rest of my life without her. Sometimes I feel guilty wondering why it happened the night before I was supposed to leave. I feel like I worried her because she knew how much she was going to miss me. She was the most amazing person in the world and was an incredibly mommy to me and my brother. I still can't quite grasp the concept that she isn't here anymore. It makes me so mad that I didn't get to say goodbye to her, or at least that I know she could hear. But I guess that's a good thing because I don't think she ever knew anything was going wrong while it all happened. We never saw her panicking or in pain, which was a blessing. Okay, sorry, I jut got typing and couldn't stop. I guess I haven't really told anyone all this stuff until now, and I don't even know you, but it just helps to get it out. I just wanted to write to you because I know you've gone through a good portion of the grieving process by now and I thought you might have some advice or something like that. If it was anyone else who had died, it would have been so much easier for me because I would have just gone to my mom for help. She always knew exactly what to do to help me. Just like someone said earlier on this post, I feel like no one will ever be able to love me as unconditionally as my mom did. Sorry this was so long--you don't even really need to respond..I feel a lot better now just after having written all this. Thanks for listening, Amanda

My condolences for the loss of your mother. In close mother-daughter relationships, it is such a difficult time. But I love your chair! The fabric is whimsical, elegant and comfy-looking all at the same time. You'll be smiling whenever you sit there! I've been slowing working through refinishing/reupholstering my mother's furniture and love giving it new life. My two favorites are arm chairs that she purchased in the late '30s-early '40s, and they have worn like iron. I wonder how many PB, RH, and Ikea chairs will still be functioning after 60-70 years!

I'd go into work and sneeze/vomit on the boss. We get a set number of sick days per year that is very generous, but similar to you, we get 'warned' if we go above the company average. With migraines, asthma and a crappy immune system, I'm often on the list. Once in a while (if my boss is nagging me) I go in absolutely sick to my stomach and spread germs near my boss, just so that they 'get' that yes, SICK TIME IS IMPORTANT.