Dear Mom, seventeen short years have gone by and I’m still learning by your example! I want to thank you for teaching me how to be a loving grandmother to my four grandchildren, Brittney, Logan, Bella and Hunter. I learned how to listen with support instead of advice. I learned how important it is to teach integrity by example. You left quite a legacy of good values by example

Hey Ma,
7-years has slipped by since you departed the planet; some days it seems like yesterday we laughed together over plates of pesto ravioli at Cafe Citti...today it seems it has been decades [far too long]. How is it you so profoundly have and continue to impact my life! You are always with me, and I with you. Love ya, Ma...Your Kid

Your deathday has passed making it six years! I think of you more often as I get older. I miss you but maybe you wouldn’t like this world these days? Thank you for teaching me how important integrity is! Love, Vaughn

Hey Ma,
How is it 6-years has slipped by since you moved forward in whatever this journey is we all ultimately are on. While reading on the front steps yesterday, when you reached out and rang your garden bell, it put a massive grin on my face...I loved putting the book down to chat...thank you! I hope you and dad are walking barefoot hand-in-hand through the fresh-tilled warm soil of the vineyards, the moist earth squishing between your toes as you both sip cocktails. You are always with me, and I with you. Love ya, Ma...Your Kid

Happy birthday Mom! You would be 107 years old  today and the older I get the more I appreciate how remarkable your energy, vitality and engagement in life was. You are mentioned often by your loved ones whenever we come together. You definitely had a positive impact on not only your family but anyone you met. I think about you and remember something that makes me smile just about every day.

Happy, HAPPY 107th birthday, Ma. The tinkle of your brass garden bell Tuesday afternoon rang clear and was so welcome...thank you for reaching out. You are in my heart always. Give dad a hug for me please. Love, Your Kid

Here it is the beginning of another fall season, your favorite. I can’t believe it has been a little over five years that your physical body left this planet! Thank you for keeping your spirit close in many ways. I miss you and I think of you often and am so grateful for all that you taught me about unconditional love, compassion, empathy, integrity, loyalty and appreciation for our beautiful universe.

Hey Mahhhhhh….Kid, here!

Well, with the 5th year upon us, I think I can safely say your wishes and directions have been fulfilled. Thank you for providing me with a clear roadmap, without the transparency, trying to correctly divine your desires would have been all but impossible. With these goals achieved, I now rest easy knowing you are also. Thank you for the occasional ringing and hoot…whenever I hear them my shoulders are warmed when the breezes blow cool. You, dad, Rob, and Jeff are forever in my mind and heart. 

“I love ya, Mahhhh…I’ll see ya tomorrow, or I’ll see ya on the other side.”

Mahhhhhhh….kid, here...

There’s no way I can claim I’m thinking about you just today, as there isn’t a day go by I don’t think of you…your wide grin, gregarious spirit, brilliant humor, and the endless love you have and continue to so freely give me. I miss you so...my longing to hug and be hugged by you is assuaged by the gift of memories…they are truly a time machine transporting me to and fro, and by your ethereal presence, punctuated by the wind-whipped ringing of your garden’s bell as I walk by…the hoots of an owl at night keeping watch over me from high in my redwoods…relying on your tenacious spirit when my own falters. I ride the mountain today feeling your wind at my back as I climb and descend…carve earth and spin crank. The wheels on the bus go round and round, at some point each of our turns present themselves. “I love ya, Mahhhh…I’ll see you tomorrow, or I’ll see you on the other side.”

I think of you often these days as we go into autum. Your favorite time of the year you said. It is mine also and as the days are warm in the middle and crisp around the edges I think how much you would enjoy the contrast. I think somehow, somewhere you are enjoying the weather and that each time I think of you, you have come back for a little visit

I remember going with Carmen to the Sunday afternoon symphony in San Francisco. What a blast. We had the same routine every time we returned to her home in Novato. Carmen would pull out a frozen pizza, stick it in the microwave, and pop open a bottle of good Chardonnay. No paper plates. Real china, thank you very much. Only Carmen could make frozen food look sophisticated. She had style. She had grace. She had class. Not only did Carmen have a love of the arts, she had a natural curiosity about all manner of things. Add to that her one-of-a-kind wit AND grit, and you have a woman who lived life to the fullest ---Carmen. Thank you for sharing a special slice of your life with me.

I love to read the stories and see the pictures of Nana as I did not grow up with her. Prior to her 100th birthday party, I hadn't seen Nana since she had her cat, Dumpling. She was always there to respond when I sent a letter and she was always encouraging no matter what my crazy ideas for life were.

Dearest Vaughn,
I have fond memories of the times I spent with your mother. I remember how she urged me to say "I could have" rather than "I should have". It was huge to someone who was raised on a heavy diet of guilt. I follow her advice to this day. Bless her heart and blessings to you and to everyone who will miss her. She was so wonderfully memorable.

The photos of Carmen and the family are so full of love and laughter.

Love, sue.

Nana was one of a kind and I feel so lucky to have known her. I was fortunate enough to help her celebrate her 100th birthday where she didn't look a day over 80. She was a funny, smart, beautiful woman, really a class act and one of a kind. I will miss Nana but, know she had such a rich, LONG life with good health (till the end). Thats what we all hope for....Kisses to to family xo Cassie Jacobs

Mom you were present in spirit at a concert last night at the Green Center. It was the Santa Rosa Symphony and an all woman Mariachi band called Reyna de Los Angeles. I felt your presence in the natural beauty of the setting, the music of the SR Symphony (whom you always had season tickets for) and the Mariachi band with their rich voices, impressive musical abilities, their passion, energy and Spanish flavor. Mom I loved the evening spent with you thank you.

Words Mom found valuable...

Buddha Says...

We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are.

We are what we think. With our thoughts we make our world.

Enlightenment is a mind open to all things and attached to nothing.

Hello,
I met Carmen when I moved to Marin in 1989. She was such a bright spirit. I took photographs of her - with her grand daughter. I lost touch with her after she moved to Oakmont. I have wondered whatever had become of her and there she was bright spirit beaming at me this morning in the paper. What a gift she was. Sorry for your loss.

Grant, So sorry to hear about your mom. I can still remember both your parents back on Corte Loyola.

I met Carmen many years back after my Mom, Eleanor Cohen and Carmen became friends. I can only say that Carmen was a lovely, warm and special lady. Her friendship with my Mom was very special. My Mom passed away two years ago and I was unable to reach Carmen. My warm thoughts are sent to her family.

I celibrate my Mom's incredible life not her passing. Ithank her for indowing me with a love of art, a quest for knowledge, a love of animals, a sense of humor and a zest for life. Thank you Mom for all the gifts you have given in my own journey through life.

Love Chip

To one of the most radiant and incredible souls I have ever known, I am so blessed to have had you for a mere 17 of your 101 years! (Btw you never looked a day over 80!)The things you have done/seen and the places you have gone still leave me in awe. The wisdom you held and the silliness you brought are things I will always cherish. Not to mention your style, I mean I've never seen someone rock a broach the way you did!! I love you so much nana and I aspire to be the woman that you were! Your playful spirit will live on forever in our hearts! Rest in peace to my silly, sweet, smart, stylish and beautiful great grandmother,nana(Carmen)!!❤️

To my Nana,
I loved when you would tell me the story of how when I was days old you would sit with me at night rocking and comforting me when I would become colicky so my mother could rest. The way you would light up with so much love in that memory made me feel so special which I continued to feel my whole life with you. You were one of my favorite confidants whom I admired so deeply. I could (and did) talk to you about anything. You had a way of really making me feel like you were listening. I loved how we shared a similar sense of humor and would laugh contagiously! Nana when you chose my Birthday to leave this world you made that day so much more special to me. I will now share my special day with my favorite Little Nana's memory. I love you and really will miss you forever! Xoxoxo❤️

Gale called to tell me he loved you from the first time he met you because you were so open and warm and made him feel special.

Thank you Nana for always making me feel like part of your family....