My mother, Oct 20 1951

My mother was not a huge makeup wearer but what she wore on her face was inspirational enough to spark my interest in the magical product.  The thought of drawing on your face fascinated me to no end.  She wore Maybelline black eye liner for brows and, for many years, a variation of red lipstick spread over numerous makeup brands including Revlon and CoverGirl.  When I started working for M.A.C. in 1999, I introduced her to Lady Danger, a vibrant orange-red shade which quickly became her favorite.

I think I'm 9 or 10 here with my mother

As a young girl, I would fill in my brows with her black Maybelline pencil and paint my lips red.  It wasn’t a beautiful look, per say, but it was HER look.  My mother was born in 1936 so I blame the 40s and 50s for her influence in pencil thin brows and red lips, an Edith Piaf-esque look.

My mother would get after me for stealing her makeup to play with it on my own face.  But I didn’t care.  It was magical to me.  Just the mere thought of being able to transform a face with color quickly became, and remains, an obsession.

Mom, we had our moments, particularly through the teen years, but in the end, you guided me to fulfill my dreams.  For that I thank you and miss you everyday.  You have no idea, or maybe you do, how many times I have gone to pick up the phone to share my latest good news of who I had the pleasure of working with that day.  The motion of picking up the phone to call you catches me off guard every time because I forgot, momentarily, that you will not be answering my call.  In that moment, my heart skips a beat, but I move forward and realize that you know and you are proud.

In dedication to my mother, Mary Martha, 1936-2002.