By Francesca Fontana Jan. 30, 2026 "My life started when you were born." That refrain echoed through my childhood. I’d ask my mom about what she was like when she was my age. She always answered simply and cheerfully: “I can’t remember. My life really started when you were born. That’s what I remember.” She never told me much, but I believed she’d always tell me the truth. Francesca Fontana, left, poses for a portrait with her mother Mia, right, in Portland, Ore. on Saturday, January 17, 2026.