Tradition: the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation; the fact of being passed on in this way.
Traditions run deep in my family, and my Nonna was the keeper of them. From Sunday dinners to Christmas Eve, traditions were not to be missed or forgotten. Nonna believed in them, hard. Family or not, all were invited to share in them — most often, gathered round the table together; laughing, sharing, and loving.
From an early age, she ingrained in us the importance of spending time together, enjoying the simple things, and making the most out of every moment. And almost every moment with Nonna involved food. Pasta and sauce, in particular. Homemade, every. time.
Nonna was a force to be reckoned with in the kitchen. Having grown up on the family farm in Italy, the saying “farm to table” was no exaggeration. Her appreciation for fresh herbs and homegrown tomatoes was unmatched. She tended to her garden, alongside my Nonno, all season long; one of her most beloved past times. Tireless afternoons spent planting, watering, picking. But when all was said and done, there was nothing she loved more than sharing her harvests with others — tomatoes, grapes, herbs, broccoli rabe, cucumbers — she had it all.
Above all else, Nonna brought everyone together through her contagious laughter and incredible meals. Gathered around the table, sharing a fresh bowl of pasta and homemade sauce — the ultimate tradition.
Five months ago we lost our beloved, Nonna.
Our hearts are still fragile, the pieces are not quite put back together. But we’re healing. Healing in knowing she is still with us, everyday, in tradition. Her legacy and spirit carrying on in each of us, as we live out her traditions, honoring her the best we can.
This weekend, we celebrated Nonna — her garden, her sauce, her tradition.
Jarring tomatoes for the year’s sauce was a tradition never to be missed. As soon as you were old enough to stand, you partook in the tradition. Too short? No problem. Nonna would flip over a pot for you to stand on. Like I said, Nonna made sure everyone had a place in tradition.
Nonna, yesterday was spent gathered around the table, doing what you loved. We showed up for you, we jarred for you, we cried for you. We quickly realized you were the brains behind the operation, as we weren’t quite as organized without you. We weren’t quite as fast without you. We weren’t quite as productive without you. But we did it. We did it for you. We did it for us. We did it for tradition.
xxx
Ci manchi e ti amiamo Nonna. Un abbracio e un bacio da tutti noi.
