Sogni di Sicilia

With all that's been happening, I forgot to take out the organics garbage. Good thing it's not July. Later on today is the funeral, but I got up and dressed for it right away. The visitation is still going on. We stopped in to visit with a few people, and Mariella asked us to lunch with them. I protested, saying she's doing too much! " Piccolo, piccolo ," it's just a little lunch. Older brother Giuseppe arrived from Milano, his family still there due to work and school obligations. We chatted with him briefly, but because of the distance, he's the one we know the least (except what we see on the family chat group, which we're a part of). I believe Mariella and Vincenzo are hosting him as well as Luisa and Ciro. I checked if anything was needed, then we headed outside for a walk to Scandura, forgetting --until we got to each-- that both Scandura and Artigiana are closed Mondays. In fact, I also forgot it is Monday! It's finally beginning to look lik

Yesterday, after hearing of Nonno's death, I had no clue what to do. Give the family space? Offer to take the kids? We left the door ajar and just listened for a time. When Joe and Vincenzo got back after tennis, the EMTs were here (I didn't know). After a little while, I decided to go to Mariella's and just see what I could do. I saw Giuseppe Uno in the hallway with the boys, and I offered to bring them up to play. He said he'd stay with them for a while; they're sad. (Real life is not hidden from youngsters here). The door to Mariella's living room, the "formal" entrance, was unusually open, so I walked in. I saw some of the family back in the hallway, assuming they're getting Nonno's things for the funeral, but no-- they were preparing Nonno for the funeral. It took many of them to sit him up, move him, and, I suppose wash and dress him. Despite having read about this in many a book, I was taken aback. Maria Teresa spotted me, and I asked h