100 years ago today

Today would have been my maternal grandmother's 100th birthday. For some reason she always celebrated it on the 2nd.

She was a remarkable woman and I miss her 23 years after her passing. I grew up in her house and it helped shape me in ways that I can't count.

She came here from Italy (Calabria, to be precise)when she was 3. Her parents struggled and she had to leave school after the 5th grade to help out at home.

She was married at 15 to a man she barely knew. 3 "dates" and then the wedding. It was arranged. He was 15 years her senior. Their wedding photo is my most prized possession.

She suffered 2 miscarriages and a stillbirth. Her next child, a girl. lived a few hours. Then she had 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls.

My grandfather was killed in an accident while working on the railroad behind their house. She was only 37 years old. Back then social services were not what they are today. She did what she needed to survive and raise her family. She "wrote numbers". It kept the family alive and then some.

She had her share of troubles with some of the children. But she never complained.

She was the best cook and baker in the entire world.

And she loved me unlike anyone else ever has. She thought I hung the moon. And the stars.

I owe her so much and I hope one day to live up to her legacy and to honor her with my life.

Until then, thank you Carmella Vaccaro Vecchio.