The strands of spaghetti were vital, almost alive in my mouth, and the olive oil was singing with flavor. It was hard to imagine that four simple ingredients [olive oil, pasta, garlic and cheese] could marry so perfectly.

One of the secrets to staying young is to always do things you don't know how to do, to keep learning.

...it was so rich and exotic I was seduced into taking one bite and then another as I tried to chase the flavors back to their source.

When people flatter you constantly it is very tempting to think you deserve it.

When a person has lived generously and fought fiercely, she deserves more than sadness at the end.

The strands of spaghetti were vital, almost alive in my mouth, and the olive oil was singing with flavor. It was hard to imagine that four simple ingredients [olive oil, pasta, garlic and cheese] could marry so perfectly.

Growing up, I was utterly oblivious to the fact that Mom was teaching me all that. But I was instantly aware of her final lesson, which was hidden in her notes and leters. As I read them I began to understand that in the end you are the only one who can make yourself happy. More important, Mom showed me that it is never too late to find out how to do it.