We drove down to New Haven for Easter to spend some quality time with Nonni and stuff ourselves silly with manicotti, porchetta, and Italian cream pie. We discussed many things including why the demise of newspapers has to mean the end of good journalism (it doesn’t), the insurmountable deficit and how we’re all China’s bitches (maybe not in those exact words, though), and whether or not I could steal off with my dad’s much better digital camera for a week to see if my photography improves (he said yes, but don’t get your hopes up).
As it always does, the conversation deteriorated to who would be leaving with what leftover food items, and how much of it would be shipped to my dad’s younger brother in Seattle. As far as my dad’s concerned, it’s always too much. Here’s what passed between him and Nonni:
Him: So I’ll take the porchetta, the manicotti, the meatballs, the potatoes, the bread, the ice cream, the pies, any cappellettis you have in the freezer, the kids’ Easter baskets, aaaaaaand Tammy can have the leftover peas. Oh, and I want the crescia, too.
Her: The crescia’s for Eddie.
Him: Go ahead, send him all my crescia. He was always the favorite.
Her: No, I don’t have favorites.
Him: Gimme a break. Even Sis knows it. (To me) She once asked Mom what would happen if all three of us were drowning and there was only enough time to save one of us.
Me: (To Nonni) And what did you say?
Her: I said I would rather drown with all my children than save just one.
Me: Wow. That’s a good answer.
Him: Yeah, except for the part where we all die.
And that, my friends, is the problem with society today. Precious few would make such a grand gesture on principle alone. Once again, Nonni puts me to shame because I don’t think that option would have even occurred to me. Of course, we won’t talk about the stash of stolen plastic bags from the grocery store I found in Nonni’s cabinets, still compressed and stuck together from being grabbed from the bagger’s station and stuffed into her purse. That wouldn’t have occurred to me, either.
mmm, crescia! That's actually why I found your blog about a year ago, I was searching for crescia since my family is the only one I knew who made it.
Posted by: Emily | April 12, 2009 at 09:54 PM
I love Nonni. Wish we could have been there. Happy Easter!
Posted by: Sis | April 12, 2009 at 10:53 PM
holy crap my dad does the same stealing of the plastic bags. i get so mad at him. i mean, that's straight up stealing. did you confront nonni?
Posted by: gansie @endless simmer | April 13, 2009 at 12:20 AM
I avoided the whole "left-over" hassle by taking DH and I out to Easter brunch at the club. Of course, now we won't have ham sandwiches for a whole week, but, oh well. Hope your Easter was a good one and the kids found LOTS of Easter eggs.
Posted by: Sally | April 13, 2009 at 07:17 AM
Sally: They sure did. Hope you had a good one, too!
gansie: I decided the plastic bag thing wasn't anywhere in the realm of Things Worth Confronting a 90-Year-Old Woman About. I'll do some extra recycling for her!!
Sis: Missed you!
Emily: Who knew? I always wonder who these nameless people are who read my blog, and now I know that they have excellent taste in Easter bread. Hope you had a good one and thanks for commenting!
Posted by: Tammy | April 14, 2009 at 10:19 PM