Forza

My Nonna is a constant reminder of human strength. No, I don’t mean physical strength, because for her that is fleeting every day. I’m talking emotional strength. The kind of strength that only a person who’s familiar with the true meaning of survival can emit.

I was thinking about this today when I saw her at lunch.  I don’t usually wear my emotions on my sleeve when I’m with her, but when she asked about a certain someone who recently broke my heart, I started to tear up. Apparently a week has not been quite enough time to heal. I didn’t want to cry in front of her because I didn’t want her to feel sorry for me or carry my worries (as she often does for a lot of people.) I think the sudden emotion surprised her and she said to me, “You have to be strong.” And she’s right of course. Nonna embodies strength. It’s who she is. But to hear her actually say the words was particularly meaningful.

If Nonna had a life slogan it would be, “Be strong.” Her whole life has been about surviving, and continuing on until you’re happy. I mean, for Christ’s sake the woman has lived though a ship-wreck, a disappointing move from Sicily to Yonkers (she said she hated the United States when she came here), multiple health scares, and probably a bit more strife than the average person can relate to. But she’s happy now and she also has a lot to be proud of. 

So after the quick and certain reminder that although there will be ups and downs in life, what matters is getting though and being strong, we did not speak of the ass-clown again. (I’m still retaining a little bitterness for the time being, okay?).  In time I’ll feel stupid I wasted any tears on him at all, but right now I will keep on the legacy of being a strong Italian woman, just like my Nonna. 

Here's Nonna as a teenager. I love
how she has her hand on her hip.

Italian word of the day: Forza; strength