Mema’s veggie bowl…

When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time with my grandmothers, Mema & Nana. I had some favorite items at both of their places.

I only have four items from Nana, her deviled egg plate, a set of Santa and Mrs. Klaus salt and pepper shakers, and a round three-compartment relish tray.

I was a young teen when Nana went to live with my Aunt Claire in Houston, Texas. My grandmother went blind when I was around 6; it was amazing how long she was able to stay in her own home until she needed more assistance.

My mother wasn’t nice to Nana, just like she wasn’t to me. She made a big deal whenever she had to take Nana somewhere or do anything for her. I hated how my mother treated Nana. It was painful to watch as a kid.

Aunt Claire, my mother’s sister, flew in and hired an estate company to take care of the furniture and other items. I remember how heartbroken and upset Nana was.

She referred to that day as “the day they broke up my home.” It made me sad, but she couldn’t live alone anymore. My mother didn’t lift a finger to help Aunt Claire; she was whistling dixie because she didn’t have to do things for Nana anymore.

Whenever Nana would talk about the day they broke up her home, I quietly would cry, not wanting her to hear me; I felt so bad for her. It would be much better to live with Aunt Claire, who wanted to care for her; my mother was nothing like her sister. Ya, think?

Mema’s house was a fun house to visit. She had lots of things I loved! As a young adult, I would visit Mema by myself. When Noah and Sam were little, we always visited Mema on our NJ trips.

She always played with me because she wanted to, and we had so much fun together when I was little. She always played with Noah when we would visit; he remembers her, which I am grateful for. Sam was little, so I don’t think he remembers her.

One day before Marty and I got married, I visited Mema; I was still living in Jersey then. She told me to look around and take whatever I wanted to have. One of those items was her veggie bowl.

I loved it because it looked like someone painted it by hand, not a machine. I use that bowl a lot now that I have a huge pantry and can find anything I want easily on a shelf.

Our small veggie garden finally started growing once we had a few days in a row without rain. The tomatoes seemed to turn red in one day. I’ve been picking and using them as soon as they ripen.

I went outside yesterday, picked some ripe tomatoes, and put them in my Mema’s bowl. I feel like a part of them is with me smiling when I use their things in my kitchen. I am sure they probably are. Those are the items that keep me connected to them.

I used all the tomatoes tonight by making a caprese salad and a pasta dish with chopped tomatoes, basil, and Italian parsley from our garden, garlic, olive oil, crushed red pepper, and kosher salt topped with grated Romano cheese. The gluten-free penne SUCKED! I had to use it since we had no spatzle on hand.

I’ve been making this dish for over 25 years, especially in the summer when all the ingredients are in season and abundant. It tasted like how I always make it; too bad the pasta sucked ass.

I love that nostalgic feeling when using one of my grandmother’s things. It makes me feel like a child again whenever I see them; I get a soft smile on my face. It’s like getting a hug from them.

I talk to Mema & Nana and tell them what I am making. I always thank them, then I cry a little until I can see them in my mind’s eye waving their hands at me, gesturing, “Oh, stop it.”