My Nonna

Lets Talk About It - From NYC w/Dana J.

WOW! 90 is an amazing age, but these days if you take care of yourself and with all the advancements it is not as hard as it used to be. I just celebrated my grandmothers 90th birthday with my family over Memorial Day weekend, and I can tell you it was a blast. It was overwhelming in a way because it had been years that we all gathered together at one another's house for something big. As you grow older you sometimes grow apart from the ones you love or lose touch or even move away.

I had the unfortunate experience of having to leave my family and friend behind when I was a child to move away. I hated it, and to this day I always wondered what did I miss or would things have been different if my family stayed. Thing is, you never know and you can't go backwards in life. I try to look forward as much as possible. My grandmother taught me that. She believed in me every single day of my life no matter how many mistakes I made. I can't think of another person in my life that I don't treasure, love, and appreciate more than her. She is the shining star of the family. There is nothing about her that a person who meets her does not love. She is this little old fashioned Italian woman you just want to pick up and hug.

She always says family, marriage, and having children are what life is all about. That is all she ever wanted was to find her husband of over 50 years, my grandfather, and have kids. She has three wonderful and successful boys...one of them being my father of course :) She has 9 amazing grandchildren who are now all growing up and getting married themselves. She was in heaven at the party in all her glory. I think it was a moment that she will never forgot out of all the memories she holds in her heart. I tell myself I want to be just like her; however, she is one of a kind. I visit her on a regular basis with my doggie and all it takes is a conversation and a good movie and she is happy.

It is amazing the simple things in life that we take for granted that she cherishes. She never complains and she loves to do for others. To this day she tells me never give up on anything. You can do anything you want to do. She is more than a role model...she is my Nonna and one of my most favorite people in this world. I often wonder about all those years I wasn't with her as much as I wanted to be, but I will never forget the times I was. What matters is I am back home close to her in her later years when it counts the most.

Never take someone for granted, love them, cherish them, hold them close to your heart, fight for each other, forgive one another, believe in each other, and most of all have faith that it will all work out for the best. We never know what each day will bring, but I do not want to wonder what if when something or someone is gone.

Caio
Many blessings
xoxo
D