He cultivated much more than a flourishing garden or beautiful carpentry. My grandfather made a life for us… one that holds opportunity and a love of family {and food} at the top. A simple blog entry could never sum up the man my grandfather was, but to share his legacy is a way he will continue to live on.
My grandparents left their tiny mountain town of Guardiaregia, Italy for a life in the States after they got married. They knew not one word of English, but found jobs and started our family here. I so admire them for that. They overcame incredible difficulties to set the foundation of what we have today.
Grandpa worked hard. So, so hard. He was a master carpenter, among many other trades he brought with him to America. We smile when we think of how much he loved his grandchildren… probably because he was a big kid and always had fun.
He handed my brother a BB gun when he was nine. He caught a rabbit with his bare hands in his 70s. He ate every part of a pig imaginable and consumed more pasta than I knew possible. He watched Italian television religiously. He cured his own meats, grew his own vegetables, made his own wine. He wore a loooong blonde wig at my wedding reception. He was always the first to greet anyone at the door. He made me pan-i-cakes every time I went over for breakfast. He was the reason I spent a year learning Italian in Italy. His big trick was flipping his eyelids over. And he loved his family with a fierce passion.
Grandpa was a storyteller… through his thick dialect, ZANGITA sound effects, or his mouth full of homemade spaghetti… he was someone you could listen to for hours because of his animation, laughter, and enthusiasm. He lived fully, and I know we’ll all miss his stories.
I was able to take these on the 4th of July in his garden.
As winter settles over his seeds, we can look forward to his work bursting through the ground in summer.
Grandpa had leukemia. Although, no one knew until a month before he passed. He could have lived with it for years, and probably did… but still, he tended his garden, cooked up a storm, enjoyed his espressos, and made every occasion special. All while likely feeling terribly drained inside. That was him… never complaining.
When I heard the news, I packed my bags and headed to NY to be with him. Before I got home, he and my grandmother celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary.
My family and I spent every hour of the day with grandpa. I can’t begin to tell you how painful those two weeks were, but I can tell you of the beauty we experienced through it all. Grandpa, once again, brought us all together. My cousins, parents, aunt, uncle, and brother had the chance to love and care for him the way he deserved. With undivided attention, we did everything we could, and I am ever so grateful.
I took these photos the last night he was able to stand. Another blessing.
My brother and grandpa shared an incredible bond. I’m so thankful for him.
He may have gone, but not without leaving a gift and legacy in us.
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Gina
You truly have a gift. What a beautiful tribute to the best Uncle in the world. I will miss him so much and have wonderful memories of my childhood with him. Your photos and words said it all.
You are an Angel.
Love you Anne
Oh honey…Tears, just tears. I adore Grandpa, and have from the first day I met him, when Daddy took me home to meet Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma wasn’t sure I was Italian enough, but I was OK with Little G. He loved me unconditionally, teaching me how to use power tools, mitre molding, hang sheetrock, sand hardwood, make pasta, bread, sausage, cheese and canned everything. I despertely miss Ciccio (Cheech)but hang onto the hope of seeing him again in Heaven. Few women are blessed to have one adoring father…I am blessed to have two. Thank you for the garden shots. Grandpa’s smile is what I miss most. I love you–
Beautiful, absolutely breathtaking. Love you so much.
Beautiful
praying for your heart, sweet friend.
what a beautiful representation of family and of the man that held it all together. Glad he felt so much love during his final days. He was such a special guy and a joy to us all. Gina u capture emotion so flawlessly. These pictures brought a tear to my eye. God bless you and your family during this time
A wonderful tribute to a man who clearly captured your heart in many ways.
How beautiful that you were able to use the gift of photography that the Lord had given you to bless your family and friends with these beautiful images of your grandpa.
Love it, Love it, Love it and yes, I do remember him always flipping his eye lids over and always making people laugh. He had a way with children, like you said because he was a big kid and liked to have fun. He was a great man indeed and will be missed. Thank you for sharing “The Face of Man We Love: Grandpa”
Oh Gina you have captured the true essence of grandpa so beautifully. He created a life for us that is really incomparable to anyone else. No one has stories like we do. And no one was so loved by their grandfather as us. Maybe I’m a little biased but I believe it to the bottom of my heart. Grandpa brought us together and grew our family like his garden. So tenderly and lovingly. We have so much good to remember and absolutely no bad. His legacy will live through us and our children and so on. I miss you and can’t wait until our family can be together again. Reading this brought grandpas absolute goodness to a level others can just begin to understand without meeting him. Ugh miss him but we will see him again. Xxoo
Gina, I am absolutely in awe of your Blog Entry since it is too close to my heart. Thank you for doing this final tribute to grandpa. Your shots are wonderful (as usual) and you’ve captured him in his element, his vineyard and doing clams on the deck. Too funny. Once again, I always love your work, but in this case you penned it perfectly and chose pics that suit him well. I love you.
Babbo
A beautiful story. We are all so fortunate for what we have been taught and given by our family…a true privilege to be a part of it!!! He will be missed! xoxoxoxoxoxo
We will miss him terribly, but we will always remember him and carry his legacy with us everyday. <3 Thanks for the beautiful post.
Beautiful words…
Great photos…
Wonderful man…
I’m so sorry to hear about your loss, Gina. Thoughts and prayers for a wonderful holiday – even in his absence.
Gina,
What a beautiful soul you have….. I could not have said it any better..
Love you
GINA my sweet, sweet friend. This post–this story and images–is truly beautiful. I don’t doubt that it fully captures the essence of an incredible man. I’m all sorts of teary over here. I’m so sorry for your loss. But no doubt this post will be a treasure to you and your family for years to come. You’re in my thoughts and prayers this week. LOVE YOU!!!!! xoxo!
This is beautiful. What a great man! I wish I knew my grandpa, both of them passed away before I turned 1.