Loving Legacies

by Roberta Ness

Creative ways to be remembered with love

So glad you popped by so you can try the flakiest, crunchiest ever pecan pie (care of my mother). But, of course, I’m biased. Mom left this and other favorite family recipes compiled into a beautifully illustrated book that I cherish. Some of my happiest memories from childhood are the hours we spent together in the kitchen salted with her sage maxims like, “make lemonade out of lemons” or “you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

One of the many things that makes death scary is the worry that after we die, we’ll not just be gone but erased, obliterated. A scarce few leave a mark on history. But what if you are (like me) one of the billions of mere mortals who have no such illusions? Can you leave some positive, lasting legacy?

Having lasting memories

The people closest to you are, of course, the ones who you affect most and will most cherish your memory. Thus, I and my aging friends, prioritize relationships over all else. As you may have heard people say, “few on their death bed wish they’d spent more time at work and less with family.’” My children have grown into capable and honorable adults and, although I don’t yet have grandkids, if I do, I’m looking forward to sitting cross-legged on the floor building castles out of spice bottles.