celiabreslin

Hi Blog Pals,

I hope you had a lovely holiday season. It has been a while since my last post due to the unexpected passing of my dear stepmother at the end of December. We’re grateful we were able to share one last Christmas with her (her fav holiday) before she moved on. She was a beautiful soul; artistic, selfless, and the kindest person you’d ever meet.

Her memorial service was held in early January, outside (she loved nature) on a perfect, sunny day in Northern California. My father asked my brothers and I to speak at it, and, since I couldn’t read an entire novel, I wrote her a poem. I share it with you now, in tribute to her, my beloved second mom.

They say a home reflects the people who live in it.
      If this is true, and I believe it is,
      then yours mirrors the joy, laughter, and love
      you shared with your family within its walls.

You loved art and gifted it to me in elaborate sketches to color,
      of princesses in flower gardens,
      and unicorns jumping rainbows.

You loved music and offered it to me with weekly piano lessons,
      and weekends of one-on-one practice time including
      endless rounds of my favorite Heart and Soul duet.

You gave me cute clothes crafted by your own hands when I was little…
      and epic conversations about life, the universe, and everything in between
      when I was older, that helped soothe my teen angst.

And when I was grown, you handed down my favorite family recipes
      along with sage advice on motherhood and marriage.

Most of all, you gave me, and all of us, unconditional love
      and showed us what it means to be a truly kind and thoughtful human being.

You made this world, our family, and our home a beautiful and brighter place.

(copyright, Celia Breslin, 2025, all rights reserved)

2025 Connections

I’ll see you back here on the blog soon, for our book chit-chat and other bookish news. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you on the socials. Are you on BlueSky? I recently joined the blue butterfly hangout and would be happy to connect with you there. 💖

Happy reading,
xo,
Celia