Happy Mother’s Day From Idy Spezzano

In celebration of Mother's Day on Sunday May 13, we asked Patch readers to write a letter to their mother and let us deliver it. This is Idy Spezzano's letter to her mom:

Everyone says they have the best mom, but I know that I do. When I was 18 and went off to college, my mom suggested we make a pact to write a letter to one another every week. In addition to our regular phone calls, we wrote a letter to each other every week, and we kept it up for 25-and-a-half years! We never missed a week!

Unfortunately, she can’t write anymore, and she doesn't believe in email. So, we resorted back to just our three-hour marathon phone calls instead.

She's 88 and has been a rock. I don't know how she does it. Both of my brothers died years ago, when they were 24 and 30 years old, and she has always been there for me. She's truly been my best friend and knows me like no one else knows me. She is adored by all of my friends and still is tight with one of my brother's girlfriends, even though he died 20 years ago.

I was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut, and my mom (up until recently) had only lived on the East Coast. I've been living in Illinois for over 25 years, 14 of which have been in Geneva, which my mother always thought was lovely. But despite the fact that we are super-tight and her grandchildren are here, she swore she'd never leave her house with my dad. It was where she raised her family and she said she was staying put.

Last summer with her health failing, she moved in with my family in Geneva. She went to the Corn Boil at Geneva High School and had a blast. Then, she and my dad moved into Greenfields in Geneva in October. After nagging them for 14 years to move near me so I could see them and they could see their grandchildren, it finally happened! It has been amazing.

Birthdays have always been a big deal in our family. I'd see my mom several times a year, but it was never on my birthday. But, just a couple weeks ago on my birthday, my mom got to be with my family and me on my birthday for the first time in 30 years! We went to Ju Rin in Geneva, and she totally loved it.

Mom, I love you so much and love that I can see you all the time now. I couldn't love you more! I'm glad I get to spend Mother's Day in Geneva with you in person! And you finally moved to the town you found adorable and you find "fancy.”

—Idy Siegel Spezzano

---

See all Mother's Day letters here.

---

For next month's Love In A Small Town feature, we want to help you give Dad the best Father's Day gift ever. Write him a heartfelt letter to tell him how much he means to you, email it to locallove@patch.com and we'll feature it in your town's newsfeed on Father's Day. Get more details here.

---

Photo Credit: Idy Siegel Spezzano