More of Nonna
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Nonna Martina stood tall at 4’11”
She was good, kind and strong
From what I understand, it was her idea to uproot her family to come to America.
She only spoke Italian….but I have suspicions she understood more than she let on.
She always had lessons or fables.
I wish…I could remember some of her fables.
I remember asking for chocolate milk, after-school or while I visited with her.
The chocolate milk was always weak and I would ask her to add more chocolate powder mix into the milk, and she always said…no economio, Marisa. I understood that “mio” meant mine in Italian but I had no idea what “econo” was… later when I got older I realized that the fate of the economy relied heavily on my chocolate milk. LOL!
She saved paper towels after she used them, she laid them across a radiator in the kitchen, and when she wanted to tell you something she would bring you in a little bedroom (we called it the gitto, gitto room) in her home to talk so that Nonno wouldn’t hear.
She crocheted many beautiful blankets and doilies. She was always making something.
I remember once when she was visiting my parents she was sitting on the couch crocheting and fully immersed in her craft, she started singing Pagliacci…. J
She always had a book near her, inside this book, here were papers with words or sayings that she wrote down. She saved many things and labeled what she was saving with names, and dates.
She sighed heavily, quite often.
I loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as a child and I still do, and I always asked for one after-school. Nonna Martina hated peanut butter, she hated the smell of it and despite this hatred; she’d make me one while holding her breath and nose.
It was amusing!
Mangia, Mangia …No Talk!
Marisa,
I so love hearing your personal account of your family members' characters. It's funny what one remembers about people, isn't it? I'm sure your Nonna Martina was a joy to be around and loved you very much!
Poppy
Thank You …she sweet and feisty when she laughed or smile it came from a place that you know was called joy, no other way to describe it. But her face lit up!
Dewena that is so funny..hubby mentioned that wall paper too…but in his Brooklyn way! He said what's up with the pink wall paper and all the bottles, and I said without missing a beat, it was a hall my parents rented for my first birthday party, hey don't knock it, its where and when I had my first beer, LOL! Which is true I have picture of my uncles giving me a sip…crazy right!
Paliacci is an opera and that really made smile, because it came out of nowhere…. I'll try to remember more. thanks for coming by!
XOXO
Yes! You're writing more of Nonna Martina! Marisa, I really like your grandmother. I think we would have been pals. But I don't know Pagliacci. Is it an opera or what? And please tell me about that wonderful pink wallpaper behind you two. Was it your house or hers?
Keep it up, Marisa. Obviously, she had a great influence on your life.
Dewena