Laila Ali & My Mother’s Dream

 A Story of Art, Food, And Remembrance

By Gail Nobles 5/22/2025 

Laila Ali is adventurous to me. I picture her in many ways in art. There is more to Laila than what I knew. She became a boxer. But there’s more. She knows how to cook and raise a garden just like my mom did.

 I get a little teary eyed because I wish my mom could see Laila. My mom was always collecting recipes, buying cookbooks, cooking, and using spices. She’s gone on to paradise. She’s probably tending to gardens there if any. If she had been alive, she would have probably been buying up Laila’s store.

 Laila is a very busy woman. I want to share with her sometimes but can’t. She has her own way. It doesn’t mean we can’t share ideas though.

 Growing up around my mom, I remember Sarah Lee and Betty Crocker. When I look at Laila, I know what she’s doing. 

Betty Crocker is a brand and fictional character used in advertising campaigns for food and recipes. 

Sarah Lee is also a brand name and was used of a number of frozen and packaged foods. I remember its slogan: Nobody does it like Sarah Lee.

And now through Art, I’m seeing Laila.