title: My Father's Last Meatballs: A Heavenly Entree
author: Paula Maida Mooney
description: Paula Maida Mooney is proud to tell people that she grew up in Brooklyn, New York, or as some people pronounced it in her neighborhood, Brook-a-lini. Professionally, she has had a career as an interior designer and antique appraiser, but for the past eight years she has been fortunate to pursue other interests - promoting non-profit organizations in her community. After her emotional healing in Italy, Paula learned that true spiritual growth means making peace with aging, mortality, and the fear of dying. Her personal philosophy is to savor every morsel of life as if it was her last meal.
zlib_text: Growing a Family
  by
  Eva Leon
  
  Chapter One
  Eddie
   
  The loud crash, followed by the sound of my mother’s cursing, made
  me put down my book and run down the stairs. When I arrived in the kitchen,
  I found her standing there over a broken crock of her famous meatballs.
  She’d made them for a potluck at the park that evening and the look on her
  face was one of sheer panic.
  “I’ll go to the store. I know what you need to make more,” I said. “You
  just focus on making your cake, Mama. When I get back, I’ll help you get the
  meatballs whipped up in a jiffy,” I said as optimistically as possible.
  “Thank you, Eddie,” she said and got the roll of paper towels from the
  counter.
  “You know, if we had a dog, you would have some help cleaning that
  stuff up.”
  “Not now, Ed,” she said. “You know your stepfather doesn’t want a
  dog, so please don’t choose now to make me feel bad about it.”
  “Sorry, Mom. I’ll be back from the store as fast as I can,” I said.
  “Try not to get lost,” she responded with her knowing s