One of my mother’s greatest prides in life was her family. You could tell she was delighted in her close knit family by how she greeted everyone who wandered through the door. Throughout the day, countless family members would make their way in and out of my house, or what it was commonly called, Oak Street Deli. My cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents would stop by to get a second opinion of a major, or minor, life event from my mother then grab a bite to eat. When one would open the front door of our bungalow, they would be greeted with the smell of that night's dinner, my mother’s laugh bouncing off the walls, and a sense of belonging. My mother willingly opened our house to, willingly provided food to, and willingly offered advice to
