Me & Grampa after one of my first dance performances.
Many people know I was back East all last week celebrating the life of Grampa G and spending time with family. It was a really meaningful week with family and close friends and a really special time.
I was really blessed that the wake and funeral times were not of the traditional Italian mournful style where everyone is silent and stares at the open casket for hours. We talked, laughed, hugged, cried, and reminisced. It was very fitting of Grampa’s memory.
Grandma with all the grandkids before lunch
For those of you who never met him, he was loud, boisterous, constantly cracking jokes, making inappropriate comments, and making people feel welcome. At least a dozen men stood up at the lunch after his funeral (at his favorite Italian restaurant, of course!) and shared stories of how Grampa became their second father after losing their own as young boys.
Grampa and my dad as a child.
Each of his grandkids had special memories to share and I couldn’t help but share my own. I had the privilege of being the only grandkid for the first 7 years of my life. I had lots of quality time with Grampa that he constantly reminded me of (when I was done playing, I would tell him to stay right where he was and I would go off to play somewhere else – he always reminded me that he was still waiting).
Grampa and me at the beach house.
When I first started dating Keith, I was petrified to introduce him to Grampa. I didn’t know what kind of craziness would ensue. After spending some time together and going fishing, Keith was accepted as part of the clan. I was blessed to know how much Grampa loved me through how much he loved Keith. Last month, I called Grampa to wish him a “Happy Birthday” and got about 45 seconds of conversation out of him before getting passed on to Grandma. Keith spend a half hour talking to him; I clearly became “Keith’s Wife”, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
At our wedding.
And there have been so many reasons to laugh. The funeral home director clearly had an obsession with Egyptian burial traditions because there were sarcophagus’ everywhere; I heard there was even a tissue box where the tissues came out the mummy’s nose!
Kind of creepy...
The video with pictures of Grampa, his friends, and our family was set to three songs, “Mambo Italiano”, “That’s Amore”, and “I’m Amazed By You” (of Tim McGraw fame). So odd and so appropriate all at the same time. I’m thankful for the reasons to laugh.
These are supposed to be praying hands that clamp shut to hold cards and gifts at the funeral home. I think it's weird.
- Did I mention we were at a “Bongiovi” funeral home?
