A dollop of normal

Nonna has come to visit for a month. She is the only octogenarian that I know, who still has her inner child fully in tact. My own inner child evaporated some years past. We are often able to tease each other. [translation = if I turn up my own volume for the hard of hearing]

One of the many reasons that I love my mother in law, Nonna, is because she is the only person on the planet to have described me as ‘glamourous.’ [translation = she wasn’t wearing her glasses at the time, so I probably just came across as a shambolic rainbow, but it doesn’t matter, she said those words] Apart from that delightful crumb of flatterer, and far more importantly, she adores her grandchildren. Since she is Italian, she is the kind of person who cheers when they swing from the chandeliers, metaphorically speaking. [translation = the boys have motor planning, and gross motor difficulties, so such feats are [as yet] beyond their abilities]


I cook in the kitchen, in anticipation of later dumping my creation in the garbage disposal unit or compost heap. [translation = the neophobic and picky eaters abound] The scent of mieux poix wafts through the house. Nonnna appears on cue. [translation = olfactory system is still fully functioning]

“Ooo, that smells nice!” she offers as she peeks under the lid. The vegetables gain their glaze and sizzle with temptation. She raises a hand, as do I. Her finger is poised to scoop out a taste, mine is poised to rap her knuckles with the wooden spoon. We both freeze in position with our eyes locked, middle aged mother to elderly child.

She chuckles and steps back unsteadily. [translation = hip replacement]
“I was just going to taste that you know?” she says unnecessarily.
“I know,” I say unnecessarily.
“Maybe……maybe one of them will try and taste something soon too?” she smiles.
We both know that is extremely unlikely within the next couple of decades.
“I would enjoy seeing that,” she adds wistfully.

I would enjoy seeing her see that too.

Thanks for the thought "Jerry."

Nonna returned to England on Sunday. We missed her even before lift-off.
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Feed the birds - tuppence be damned

My Mother-in-Law is Italian, but lives in England for her sins. She came to visit one Summer for a few weeks. Of course all grandmothers are biased, but her delight in 'my' children, was balm upon my worried soul. [translation = pre-diagnoses] I'm sure that Italians have their own set of cultural norms and expectations, but they differ greatly from the British version. My children could be swinging from the chandeliers and Nonna would be there cheering them on.

Few people had the patience to try and engage my son but Nonna was relentless. The bond between them shone. I could explain this phenomenon with reference to her animated face, arresting hand gestures, non-American accent, or her demonstrative nature, but such a clinical approach fails to capture the magic.

One day, we went to the beach at Santa Cruz. I had carefully assembled a large pic-nic in advance, to cater to everyone's foibles. At that time my son had a reasonable vocabulary but rarely spoke. When he did speak his only topic was Thomas the Tank Engine. He was also hyperlexic, but was in the process of losing that skill.

Nonna has many skills. One of her more annoying ones, is her affinity with wild life. From insects [translation = bugs] to elephants and everything in-between, Nonna is their champion. They are drawn to her by some invisible thread. Dr. Doolittle is as nought beside this woman.

Hence, when everyone had abandoned the pic-nic fare, since it is impossible to nail children down in sand, Nonna began to throw the left overs into the sky for the seagulls benefit. Within seconds we were a scene from Hitchcock. Spouse sighed and clucked, as he tried to chase the birds away. I turned my attentions to the criminal modeling inappropriate behaviour to my children, "now listen! Nonna is very naughty to feed the birds." [translation = "flying vermin"] Nonna pulled a face, as well she might, in league with her grandchildren in a common conspiracy. She pulled him close for a snuggle, but he wriggled free to protest..........

"No! Nonna is not naughty. Nonna is good and kind!"
We all turned to look at him. It was the longest voluntary sentence he had ever uttered.

This son - defender of the gene pool and super hero to all other 'lesser' "beings."