Nonna

Nonna

Nonna, as grandmother was known, was the most

loving of women. I remember being

hugged and kissed almost beyond reason.

Nonna never learned English, she couldn't

read or write in any language. When shopping

she recognized what she wanted by

the packaging, and sometimes got it wrong.

Most of her shopping was at specialty shops -

one for chicken, one for cheese, one shop

for vegetables - it was like that.

Nonna had seven children for whom she

lovingly cared. Nonna also worked as a seamstress.

She was an exceptional woman.

Some time before I was born, Pa, grandfather,

became a batterer. Back in the “old country”

as it was called, Nonna would have known what to do.

There were town and village elders, her and his extended

family and religious leader to appeal to. But here

there was none of that. Then the beatings moved from

just Nonna to the children, this must not be.

Nonna moved from the house and moved the children

to the houses of friends. She was given advice that

the courts could help. She appealed to the court,

with my aunt being the translator. The judge order

Pa out of the house. Nonna had to work more and

structure the home to be sure all the children were

properly cared for.

Nonna, now about a hundred and fifty years after

her birth, is looking down with pride. She can see

among her grand children and great grand children

doctors, educators, engineers, and other professionals

contributing skills and knowledge to the

country she loved.

highly modified picture from web