Connie (Concetta) Urzi was my 'adopted grandmother.' She was a wonderful
lady from Sicily, and she and my mother were in a group through church.
(Italian Catholic Federation. My mom isn't Italian, but then Grandma
Connie wasn't Catholic anymore, either! (She converted to Methodist
when she got married.) Grandma was very friendly and loud! Going around
town, people knew her. She was happy and jolly - just what a grandmother
should be. In her later years, her health started to deteriorate. My
sister, Lucyann (Lulu) would take care of grandma during the day and
in the late morning, I would sometimes join them because I was in high
school for 3 hours. I remember on many occasions that Grandma Connie
had this nice story she'd tell ANYBODY, at ANY time! (But that was her!)
My sister has always been, for
lack of a better word, well endowed in her breasts and at that time,
she was breast feeding my nephew, Peter. Grandma would tell the story
of how one day in Sicily, she and her family were going to a picnic
after church. "My mama had bigga bosooms like-a yours, Lucyann.
We were at the picnic and she pulled a boiled egg from her brassiere
and told me she kept it there so it would be nice and warm when she
gave it to me." Grandma didn't think anything of that story! Grandma
gave me my appreciation for Italy and perhaps more importantly, for
cooking. She died just a year after I graduated. I miss her because
she never got to meet my daughter, but I take comfort in knowing that
she watches over us every day.
Grandma and l were talking and she
told me that if l ever wanted to find a good man, l had to learn to
cook. We'd often sit and reminisce about her days in 'the old country.'
She was the one who encouraged me to make her mother (and grandmother's!)
recipe for "meat-a balls" Though I miss her, l take comfort
in knowing that she's in a better place and hopefully one day (though
not soon!) when l join her, there will be a rather large banquet of
her food waiting for me and she'll take me in her sweet and gentle arms
to welcome me.
ABOUT
MARIA: "I'm 25 years old. I live in Camarillo, Ca. with
my parents, brother and a sister. I've recently gone back to school
as a History major- but only because I have arthritis in my knees and
can't be on my feet for to long. :( I love to cook (of course!) and
actually can't wait for St. Patrick's day. After High school, I was
privileged enough to go to Europe with my sister and fell in love with
the people and food. It's become a tradition to every year make Guinness
Stew. I have a fabulous 4 year old daughter, Luisa who I am slowly turning
into a chef."
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