Grandma Titti's Anniversary

Today is the second anniversary of the death of my grandma Titti (Caterina). She was my dad's mom, and she took care of my uncle Mario.

I remember her fondly for a sense of caring and service--she used to volunteer at her church all the time. She always showed me a lot of love, even from far away, sending me little gifts whenever my dad used to visit her on those rare occasions while living overseas and far, far away from home.

It's difficult having family and being far away from them, especially for extended periods of time. But it's an amazing feeling when we're able to spend time together and enjoy each other's company.

I definitely spent a number of sunny afternoons on the occasional visit to Italy with nonna Titti and uncle Mario, while sipping a cup or two of tea and several delicious pasticcini from the nearby pastry shop and bakery.

Her health suffered terribly after being run over by a careless driver while crossing the street at a pedestrian crossing. Her illnesses caused her great agony, both physically and as her mental faculties left her progressively less able to care for herself.

I remember her asking many questions about us and our life away from home. I also remember her fondly for her dramatic sense and demeanor, and for having done me so many little kindnesses to show me I was family, even though I lived far far away for such a long time.

Grazie nonna Titti, ti ricordo sempre. Un bacione.

Please go hug a loved one today.

Missing Grandma Wanda

Today is the one year anniversary of my maternal grandmother's passing. I miss her every day. 

When I was small we used to get into heated arguments and I used to hate her. She used to be driven wild by my rambunctiousness. As I grew older we grew closer.

She was the only family  member I spent time with besides my parents after we moved away from Italy when I was a  young child. She used to visit during the Christmas holidays in Mexico. I used to hand-draw her name banners in many colors and make crafts to welcome her, and for her Christmas presents. I used to drag her out of bed at an ungodly hour to go open our presents. She brought me a cuckoo clock our last year in Mexico. It was beyond awesome.

She bought me a cool Sony alarm clock for our first Christmas in the US. She used to bring us torrone and pan dolce Genovese. Sometimes some gianduiotti as well. One year she bought me a rocking chair I had been eyeing at the local department store--I totally ruined the surprise because I sneaked into the "secret gifts room" when I had been told not to. It was hilarious and it was the best gift ever.

She always had her Settimana Enigmistica with her and, although she never went to high school, she was an expert at resolving even the most impossible rebus through years of experience.

After a couple of years of us having moved to the US she let me resolve some of the connect-the-dots games, and a couple of crosswords from her booklets during her visits. She also started mailing me some of the games that she hand-cut herself out of her magazines. She would leave these for me to fill out. Which I always promptly did whenever I got them. But she wanted me to use a rule so the lines would be straight! And of course, I was headstrong and would not use the ruler.

She used to make yummy minestrone alla genovese with homemade pesto and a lovely vegetable mix from the frozen food section. She had a preference for mushy broccoli with lemon juice or vinegar and olive oil.

I called her every day between June 2011 until pretty much she passed away. In between my yearly visits. I miss her a lot. I am lucky enough to still have her voice recorded on our answering machine from about four or five years ago, which I've also digitized and saved for posterity.

Finding Warmth in the Strangest Places

Yesterday I got to take my favorite niece and (not so favorite! J/K) significant-other unit to the Arboretum. We had discussed going with my niece all summer long, and yet were unable to make the plans a reality. We finally had our chance yesterday!

I also wanted to take advantage of a free visitor pass I got when I renewed my membership, and which expired at the end of the month.

We went around lunch time so we enjoyed some grub from the nice cafeteria. On our way out we visited the shop, which now had some new inventory from my last visit. Then took a drive to the East and West sections to enjoy the gorgeous grounds.

As the significant-other unit said sarcastically, I could be a tour guide now.

But let me bring you back a notch, to when we were in the store. They had some amazing holiday themed items, a new fir aromatic product line prominently on display, and their usual suspects as well. This all conspired to get me spending, though it also helped me get an early start (some might say not so early!) on gifts for this upcoming holiday season.

Two particular items that rocked my shopping spree world were San Diego Hat Company knit beret  and a matching knit ascot scarf -- both in a pink-berry color.

Previous exposure to knit ascot scarves involved one that an older relative had hand-crafted and sent me when we had just moved to the US. It was silvery and gray, and meant to be worn to special occasions. Which I thought was really weird and unusable for said reasons.

Now, however, with wisdom and 20/20 hindsight, the intrinsic value of that scarf is immeasurable. The dear, sweet lady has passed on after a terrible bout of Alzheimers and other ailments. I hope I find that scarf in my parents weekend home on my next visit, since it's been ages since I've spotted it--and I would never forgive myself for accidentally sending it on to the goodwill store.

I seriously undermined the versatility and usefulness of ascot scarves in the past. Not this year. Particularly in view of my neck issues over the past year.

So with whatever little trendy accessory you chose to adorn yourself, wishes that you stay warm and happy. Oh and happy holiday shopping--may they all be perfect gifts...and good steals!

Wrestling the Menu Down

I've been wrestling with what to cook for Christmas this year. We typically enjoy a seafood and fish feast on the 24th according to Italian tradition, and then enjoy a lasagna and lamb feast the 25th.

Since my parents aren't around (again!) I can make lighter fare for the three of us who are there. I'm playing around with the following beta version of the menu:

24th:

• shrimp ceviche
• some smoked salmon sushi from the nearby Japanese restaurant (tentative)
• garlic, olive oil, and lemon scallops (big ones)
• grilled salmon with peach salsa (salsa was a gift from my best bud)
• lemon and parsley boiled potatoes
• English plum pudding flambe with table cream

25th:

• curry yogurt chicken (significant-other's project)
• lamb dish from nearby Greek restaurant (tentative)
• Macaroni and cheese topped with bread crumbs in mini ramekins
• Italian panettone
• Martini e Rossi spumante

I'm still thinking about the italicized items. Not sure. Hmm... I have two days to figure it out! Then I have to go shopping for most of these items. *gulp*

Quote of the Day

The significant-other unit said this as we were driving away from IKEA this afternoon:

"One of the things I will always appreciate is having an intelligent wife."

I wanted to record this for posterity, my jaw's still slack with shock.

Where Are You From?

Such a simple-minded question. And yet, as most things in life, answering the question of where you are from can be complex, paradoxical, and mysterious.

In my case, I'm from at least 12 places across the globe. Those 12 are places where my family and I have rented or owned homes/apartments. There's a couple more places in Italy, but I can't find them and will need to get my mom to help me figure where they're at exactly.


View Places I've Lived in a larger map

I've also been trying to track down my scholastic years, for particulars of where and when. I sometimes blank on early life due to who knows why. Here's what I've been able to put together:

98 NIU
97 NIU
96 NIU
95 NIU
94 MAA - NIU
93 MAA
92 MAA
91 MAA
90 Our Lady of Peace, Darien - MAA
89 7-8 Instituto Rougier, Veracruz - Our Lady of Peace, Darien
88 6-7 Instituto Rougier, Veracruz
87 5-6 Instituto Rougier, Veracruz
86 4-5 Instituto Rougier, Veracruz
85 3-4 Instituto Rougier, Veracruz
84 2-3 Instituto America, Veracruz - Ada Negri, Pegli - Instituto Rougier, Veracruz
83 1-2 Scarabocchio, Nervi - Instituto America, Veracruz - Ada Negri, Pegli
82 kind - 1
81 kind
80 ?
79 ?
78 ?
77 April

Life Landmarks

Sometimes I ponder what the meaning of life-cycle landmarks are. We are somehow trained to value particular landmarks, and sometimes we make up our own (couple's month-saries, etc.).

Do we really need to look forward to something that helps us calculate how far we have left to go? What about those of us who look back and shudder thinking they haven't gotten to all they meant to in the time that's elapsed?

Landmarks are definitely a social phenomenon, more than a creation that will help us internally in our intellectual growth. Though many individuals are able to internalize social creations and values. I definitely don't count myself among these last types of individuals. I am always finding myself looking on as if I weren't a part of things. It's better when the company surrounding us is supportive, intergrative, as some of these landmarks are quite terrifying (hitting 50, being over the hill, having your first kid, graduating college and looking for your first job, etc.).

There's almost as many landmarks as there are phobias and anxieties... ;) wonder why that is...

So what does a landmark or life-cycle event mean to you, to your close family and friends? How do you celebrate, or how do you pick and chose which landmarks are made into events to remember?

What does six years of marriage and 9 years of having (really) lived with someone mean for that union and the growth and prosperity of those two individuals? How many landmarks do couples go through together, and how does the celebration of these landmarks speak of and about them, and help them grow individually and as a couple?

I think landmarks set us another notch in the mountain that is life, it's another notch to balance from as we precariously reach forward into the unknown, or for some lucky few, a pre-scheduled and pre-planned future. How much control can someone really have on their future? How do you know in the present, that the decision you're making will impact and reverberate into a number of tomorrows? It's better to live and let live. Plan when you can, and just go with the flow when you just don't know.

May all your landmarks and life-cycle events propel you into a future of brightness and success!

My Uncle Once Removed...

I think this gentleman is my uncle, once removed...he's basically my mom's uncle. Since I don't have much family I'll just claim he's my once removed uncle. ^_^

I haven't been in touch at all with the English side of my family and it's truly a sore spot for me emotionally. Hopefully, my travel/vacation savings account will grow to the extent where I can pick up and go wherever I like in a few years, without having to ask permission or coordinate plans ahead of time. Takes work to save, but this is a plan and it's gonna happen dang it. *sigh* ^_^