Remembering my Mom on Mother's Day.

https://youtu.be/bXVptv70iSk

Zelda (née Vann) Itzkowitz grew up in the Bronx, New York in the 1940’s and 50’s. She was a tom boy, a practical joker but always a lady and always put together.

My mother was 77 when she passed at her untimely death from Covid, but her energy, passion and go getter attitude made her seem like she was just 27. Coincidentally, this Tuesday marks her 1st “Yahrzeit”, the anniversary of her passing.

After marrying in 1962, she settled with my father in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, NY (made famous by the movie Saturday Night Fever and the Mafia).

I have so many fond memories of her while growing up with my 7 siblings in a 4-bedroom house. There were 11 of us along with my Grandfather, who although had his apartment in the Bronx for his “stuff”, he pretty much lived in our house. But my mom loved the excitement and energy and noise level that seemed to go on day and night.

It was always an adventure. From bringing home live fish that swam in our bathtub before they were ready for my grandfather filleting them for our dinner, or slinging mud in the concrete backyard (who knew where my mom found the dirt for us to mix the water in with the garden hose), to being our pitching coach while my brothers and I played little league.

An exciting time in our home was when a new refrigerator was delivered. Mom took the empty huge box and positioned it on the staircase indoors. She then piled some pillows at the bottom of the stairs and we spent days sliding down through the box. Even our 62-year-old ‘Zaidy’ (grandfather), slid down a couple of times. (We recently uncovered some Super 8 film which recorded the event – “pure gold’).

I could write novels about my Mom, but in the end, the memories from the experiences were priceless. 

Thanks Mom. I Love You. And Happy Mother’s Day!