just wow-- I am shocked that this is the last week of February! It has been really nice not having to deal with snow. I hope that it doesn't cause too many issues later on with water levels but I am happy that I haven't had to worry about traveling on bad roads or shoveling.
My mom talked for over 2 hours with Caitlyn- she taped the whole thing. I was really happy to sit back and listen and ask a few of my own questions as well. She had some really funny stories from her HS days. Cait asked how her parents met and she had no idea. She is going to ask my aunt next time they talk. I would love to hear it. Italian immigrant families tended to stick together back then, My grandfather was one of 7 and my grandmother one of 4 sisters. My grandfather apparently dated one of my grandma's sisters before her and that sister ended up marrying my grandpa's brother. So confusing!
One thing that stood out for me was when Cait was asking about when my grandma passed away. It was 2 months before my wedding, a few weeks before my shower. We thought that she was going to make it to the wedding. As you can tell, my family is super close and my mom had the same kind of relationship with her mom that I have with her. Caitlyn has the same relationships with me and my mom- it all flows up and down.
Anyway, the day of my grandma's funeral we got back the house and a blizzard was just beginning. Gary wanted to pick me up and bring him back to his house and I wanted to be with him. My mom wanted me to stay home and at that time, I thought that it was because of the snow, not wanting me on the roads. Looking back, I bet that was part of it, but I think a bigger part of it was needing her kids around her. I was so wrapped up in my pain that it never occurred to me that *she* needed me.
One thing that my mom also talked about was from the question- "what is something you wish you could tell your parents now?"-- She answered that she wishes she could tell them how much she appreciated them, that it wasn't until she had her kids grow up that she realized how hard it is to balance it all. I felt that. It wasn't the time for me to butt in but it is something I am going to say back to her. She needs to know and I want her to know now. Not when it is too late.
Another interesting tidbit is that my grandfather's dad and one brother lied about their ages to come to America. My great-grandfather came here when he was 15 and his parents and one of his brothers stayed back in Italy. She is not aware of what happened to them other than they never made it to the US. The story goes that my G-Grandfather and his brother came on a banana boat with $2 to their name. I don' know if anyone has the actual documentation or how they would even get it if they lied on their papers? Pretty neat stuff.
Today I *have* to clean my house it is so darn dusty down here. And I have to do the dreaded food shopping/menu preparations. I hope the weather is nice wherever you are, I will be enjoying the spring-like temps here today!
Hugs!
My mom talked for over 2 hours with Caitlyn- she taped the whole thing. I was really happy to sit back and listen and ask a few of my own questions as well. She had some really funny stories from her HS days. Cait asked how her parents met and she had no idea. She is going to ask my aunt next time they talk. I would love to hear it. Italian immigrant families tended to stick together back then, My grandfather was one of 7 and my grandmother one of 4 sisters. My grandfather apparently dated one of my grandma's sisters before her and that sister ended up marrying my grandpa's brother. So confusing!
One thing that stood out for me was when Cait was asking about when my grandma passed away. It was 2 months before my wedding, a few weeks before my shower. We thought that she was going to make it to the wedding. As you can tell, my family is super close and my mom had the same kind of relationship with her mom that I have with her. Caitlyn has the same relationships with me and my mom- it all flows up and down.
Anyway, the day of my grandma's funeral we got back the house and a blizzard was just beginning. Gary wanted to pick me up and bring him back to his house and I wanted to be with him. My mom wanted me to stay home and at that time, I thought that it was because of the snow, not wanting me on the roads. Looking back, I bet that was part of it, but I think a bigger part of it was needing her kids around her. I was so wrapped up in my pain that it never occurred to me that *she* needed me.
One thing that my mom also talked about was from the question- "what is something you wish you could tell your parents now?"-- She answered that she wishes she could tell them how much she appreciated them, that it wasn't until she had her kids grow up that she realized how hard it is to balance it all. I felt that. It wasn't the time for me to butt in but it is something I am going to say back to her. She needs to know and I want her to know now. Not when it is too late.
Another interesting tidbit is that my grandfather's dad and one brother lied about their ages to come to America. My great-grandfather came here when he was 15 and his parents and one of his brothers stayed back in Italy. She is not aware of what happened to them other than they never made it to the US. The story goes that my G-Grandfather and his brother came on a banana boat with $2 to their name. I don' know if anyone has the actual documentation or how they would even get it if they lied on their papers? Pretty neat stuff.
Today I *have* to clean my house it is so darn dusty down here. And I have to do the dreaded food shopping/menu preparations. I hope the weather is nice wherever you are, I will be enjoying the spring-like temps here today!
Hugs!
and yes remember to tell your Mother that she means the world to you!! I wish I would have told mine more often! 
