An adoring tribute. Your standard-issue Italian nonna is equally at home in church or the kitchen. She prays for you, and for all the right reasons: your incurably casual church attendance, your tattoos, your indecent language. She wants you to get married, but how is that going to happen when you won’t settle down? Come Sunday dinner, though, which is not to be missed for any reason short of death, she’s standing over your shoulder with a third ladleful of pasta, telling you to eat because you’re too skinny.
I read this, and love that you love them. But a big part of me can't help thinking that I'm glad my people were German-Norwegian-Anglo/Saxon. (Not that any of that ever made my life better, mind you.)
My 100% New Jersey Italian-American mother-in-law had 5 sons and a daughter who've been married a total of 9 times and not ONE has married a man or woman with a single drop of Italian blood. Just sayin'.
I am Barbara's "100% N.J. Italian-American mother-in-law" and I might fit a few of the nonna's descriptions, but am thrilled to have the wonderful mixture of heritages that my sons and daughter have brought into our family.
What a pleasure to meet you! I think the world of your son, grandkids, and daughter-in-law. They are exceptional people. I was also impressed to learn recently that your branch is related to Mary Bankes of Corfe Castle. I’m a lay scholar in English history, particularly a period of time encompassing the history of that stronghold. Your connection there is very cool
Your article, so succinctly put, was a pleasure to read. In fact I've read it a number of times, always absorbing more and more of the wisdom that you see and present. I think what struck me the most is the way you've described love, showing tenderness as well as discipline. A far cry from the way Italians are sometimes viewed. Thank you for a great read.
Yeah, I’m not crazy about that stereotype either, even if it’s not cruelly meant. For me, the nonna article was a loving tribute, yes, but also a little tongue-in-cheek because, of course, nonnas are people, and people are wildly diverse. A generalization is still a generalization. But the love is most definitely real :-)
HOW could they do that? Of course, I’m not familiar with the “market” over there. A goombah from Bensonhurst who wears a pinkie ring is a lot different from an actual Italian-Italian. So….
I read this, and love that you love them. But a big part of me can't help thinking that I'm glad my people were German-Norwegian-Anglo/Saxon. (Not that any of that ever made my life better, mind you.)
You are not a man who requires the kind of active supervision a nonna would give you;-)
My 100% New Jersey Italian-American mother-in-law had 5 sons and a daughter who've been married a total of 9 times and not ONE has married a man or woman with a single drop of Italian blood. Just sayin'.
I am Barbara's "100% N.J. Italian-American mother-in-law" and I might fit a few of the nonna's descriptions, but am thrilled to have the wonderful mixture of heritages that my sons and daughter have brought into our family.
What a pleasure to meet you! I think the world of your son, grandkids, and daughter-in-law. They are exceptional people. I was also impressed to learn recently that your branch is related to Mary Bankes of Corfe Castle. I’m a lay scholar in English history, particularly a period of time encompassing the history of that stronghold. Your connection there is very cool
Your article, so succinctly put, was a pleasure to read. In fact I've read it a number of times, always absorbing more and more of the wisdom that you see and present. I think what struck me the most is the way you've described love, showing tenderness as well as discipline. A far cry from the way Italians are sometimes viewed. Thank you for a great read.
Yeah, I’m not crazy about that stereotype either, even if it’s not cruelly meant. For me, the nonna article was a loving tribute, yes, but also a little tongue-in-cheek because, of course, nonnas are people, and people are wildly diverse. A generalization is still a generalization. But the love is most definitely real :-)
HOW could they do that? Of course, I’m not familiar with the “market” over there. A goombah from Bensonhurst who wears a pinkie ring is a lot different from an actual Italian-Italian. So….