A Happy Mother’s Day and a Farewell to Graziella (May 11, 2025)

From left to right: Happy Mother’s Day!; May you all have a mother as wonderful as mine; If you’re in New York, please go to Frame; me with Graziella, who loved to drink water from a glass. You are missed!

Today is Mother’s Day, and that fact alone leaves me with a great deal to celebrate.  I make no secret of the fact that I truly love my mother, and she, like my father, are two of the most supportive and caring people I know.  She takes months at a time out of her life to be with me here in New York as I prepare to start my life as a concert pianist, while home schooling me and making my life less complicated and more wonderful all the time.  I truly love her and am grateful for her every single day.

I feel strongly that the power of mothers is everywhere in the Universe, because they represent love, caring, and nurturing in all that they do. A person does not have to be your mother in order to care for you like one, and the kindness of mothers does not only come from people. The love of animals toward us, and even the bright flowers and bouquets that are everywhere today are, in their own way, like the loving smiles of happiness that mothers bring us.

I am a bit sad today as Graziella, Mr. Cosmo’s old and very dear cat, just passed away. I will always remember how she would greet me every time I walked into Mr. Cosmo’s house to practice, and how she would settle in to listen to me play.  Her attention, like that of a mother, was always encouraging and deeply appreciated, and she will definitely be missed. 

Earlier, at the start of my day while I was still practicing on my keyboard, my mother suggested that we go out for a coffee.  She took me to Frame, a wonderful coffee and brunch shop where I had a sweet Thai-style iced coffee, which was really great. I ordered an iced vanilla latte and a bowl of Greek yogurt. The service was extremely kind and the food very delicious.

Later in the evening I met with Mr. Cosmo, and there was for both of us a real emptiness in the room without the presence of Graziella.  When a pet passes it truly is the loss of a friend, and this loss is something we are both feeling strongly.  Even Tamino, Mr. Cosmo’s other cat, seemed to sense Graziella’s absence.

I am grateful that on this Mother’s Day, as in every day of my life, my mother is here to love, care, and support me during both good and difficult times.  This Mother’s Day took on special meaning because of Graziella, while also making me even more aware of just how special my mother truly is.