Remembering a mother who died too young

This is how I spend time with my mother -
I dance the tango
and remember her bossa nova
I harmonize
because that's all she ever did
I paint walls in my house
and see her wearing sandals all splattered
I water my plants
and visit her hospital for violets
I put on an apron
and laugh because she was too modern for aprons
I cook
and taste her every-Monday spaghetti
I watch the white grow into my hair
and see her little fountain of grey
I play with words
and hear her wordplay
I speak mangled German
every word from her
I love my husband and my children
and feel the love she gave all of us
I hug my grandchildren
for her