Being vulnerable has always been my way of dealing with my grief, from the beginning. Even before I knew I was that way, I cried it out all the time. I expressed my feelings.

Everything is in our cellular level. My mom's is definitely in my cellular memory.

I want people to think about the connection between mothers and daughters. I like the idea of continuity of life and generations.

Being vulnerable has always been my way of dealing with my grief, from the beginning. Even before I knew I was that way, I cried it out all the time. I expressed my feelings.

We lose things all the time. We lose ourselves every day. We lose our minds occasionally. But it's just a part of life, loss.

I thought my mom's whole purpose was to be my mom. That's how she made me feel.

I grew up around so many beautiful things. My mother's jewelry and purses - they're very much statement pieces. Again, that sort of over-the-top Russian thing where it looks like treasure. I always say to my husband, you don't ever have to get me another piece of jewelry. When your mother is this amazing woman, a North Star, sometimes you want a simpler presentation of yourself.