To My Sweet Grandmother Laura Grossi, Rest in Paridise

I wanted to write a  little post tributed to the sweet life of my  loving grandmother Laura Grossi. God willing I was able to get down to Clearwater Florida for the wonderful memorial service. Growing up, my interactions with my father's extended family was few and far between. It's just been one of those classic American, working-class family stories, where the dream has stretched the family geographically far apart. It was an amazing service and the whole family together was a true honor and treat that we did not take for granted,
The Grossi family is large, italian and more importantly a bunch of  loud New Yorkers with personalities you'd never forget.  My father is the second oldest of seven; five daughter and two sons, of his two wonderful parents Laura and Tony Grossi. Born and raised in Brooklyn and Long Island they got married fairly young, ended up raising seven beautiful children in Long Island New York.

 How the heck my grandmother raised all these kids is a mystery that although sounds very rewarding, I hoping I don't have ever fully understand... In other words, God bless my grandparents, but I could handle that many kids. But people, life, and society was different back then, I truly understand that! There was a great sense of self sufficiency due to need more than desire in those days. What you could and could not buy at the local corner store was a totally different story back then, and with minimal interactions between Industrialization and global markets for supplying goods to for even the most modern cities, life was literally more simple whether people wanted it or not!
    Current day, we live some of the most complicated and busy lives, through a constant stream of media grabbing every second of attention, an impersonal health care system overloaded with paperwork and policies for a one night hospital visit, or the chaotic and overwhelming never ending options of shelved processed foods, and let alone labor systems that run people so tired and exhausted that there is very little energy left for quality social engagement. With humility I will admit, I dream what it would be like to live in this country in the mid 1900's.

   My grandparents raised their kids in a day where McDonald's still sold a decently grilled cheese burger. Where church sunday picnics was a tradition, along with home cooked meals around a common table with the family. Hand-me-down clothes was a common occurrence, and a barrel of crude oil was probably not much more than a high priced gallon in today's market! So yes, it was quite a different world that they came from. But love meant the same thing then as it does now, that's one thing that never changes! And years of hard invested love on 7 children has moved on to multiple generations now and livings in her offspring such as myself.   

  With large family gatherings there can always be a concern bringing the whole family together may sparked disagreements, and some potential conflicts would rise. But to be honest there were several very holy moments in which I saw the truest form of the love between a family. A love that set aside differences and opinions, and remembered there sweet mother's legacy of treating others with respect, care, and dignity always. She was a wonderful women, and the lives she's left behind are a mere testimony of her goodness in the life that she lived.
I am sorry grandma, that our time together was brief. That you didn't get to see my children, and that we won't be able to knit together into my old age. But your spirit I believe left a piece within side of each person you touched, and that will live forever. Thank you Grandma, I love you! Grace and peace to you in paradise. Look at your beautiful family!