Beloved Nonnie

It is an end of an era. My beautiful grandmother,Matilda Cafiero, passed away Sunday at the age of 88. She immigrated to the United States from Italy in the late 1930s or early 1940 on an arranged marriage to my Crampa. They met only days before their marriage and spent their first hours alone on their wedding night. The grew to love each other dearly and had a life-long marriage of love, laughter, music and family. They had seven children, 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. My grandfather worked initially in his father's pizzeria in New York. He became an aircraft mechanic and took great pride in his work. She worked to raise not only her children but she also worked to care for other children. They moved to Las Vegas where my grandfather performed playing his mandolin and Nonnie sang and played the tambourine. Then on to Phoenix Arizona where they continued to raise their family and perform together.

My fondest memories in childhood were the visits to Nonnie and Crampa's house in Phoenix. There was always a lot of people around and delicious Italian cooking...and of course, music. Each night the family would gather together around two tables, the adult table and the kid's table and enjoy a fabulous meal that Nonnie worked all day to prepare. I always remember it being very loud...a good loud. After our meal we would settle into the living room where my grandfather would pull out his mandolin and start playing. My Uncle Sal would join in with the drums, my father with his guitar, and Nonnie would sing. All the cousins would dance around with our tambourines and maracas. Laughter would fill this small house on East Geneva St.

Click below to enjoy an audio clipping of my Crampa and Nonnie together with some friends and family playing a jam session. I guarantee it will bring a smile to your face. (This is an old taping so be sure to listen past the loud screeching noise).

Nonnie Sings from Mark Cafiero on Vimeo.

Today, their legacy lives on in the family "Get-Rich-Quick" game and the Great Saldini show. We still enjoy the music of my uncle and dad at our family reunions and talent shows performed by the great-grandchildren. And although, I am sad that Nonnie is no longer with us I am happy knowing she is in Heaven now singing and smiling with Crampa.

Lessons Learned while "Getting Better Soon."

Now that I am feeling better and have a clear head I thought I would write about my experiences this past week. Most of you who read my blog know that last Friday I had hernia repair surgery. I thought it would be an easy procedure and an easy recovery. Never having had surgery before my biggest fear was undergoing anesthesia. The surgery went well and eight days later I can say that each day is better than the one before...but easy? No, definitely not easy. But I don't want to write about that. I just want to write about a few lessons learned this past week.

1. When a surgeon tells you: "You'll be down for about two days then you can resume normal activity." Don't believe him...unless your normal activity consists of resting all day on the sofa, being waited on hand and foot, and only getting up to go to the bathroom.

2. Never take your health for granted. All week I stared at a pile of laundry and wished I could sit up long enough to fold it.

3. Sometimes God wants you to be still. Sometimes God wants you to be alone.

4. Friends are awesome! Heaven sent meals appeared every day and flowers and cards and well-wishes and phone calls.

5. The human body is weird and amazing! I am in awe of our capacity to heal but am completely baffled by the goose-bumps that have been appearing on my right thigh in five minute intervals. My husband and friends assure me it isn't anything to worry about.

6. I will never have voluntary surgery!

7. My husband is the most wonderful man on the face of this earth! Our marriage definitely reached a new level when I asked him to grab the olive oil and help me remove the bandage that was permanently adhered to my "inguinal" area. TMI? Sorry.

8. There really is NOTHING good on television!

9. You always have a choice. No matter what the situation you have the power to choose how you are going to handle it. You can complain, mope, and pout or you can accept it for what it is and look for the blessings in the situation. I found that when I was forced to be still and alone after I quite complaining and feeling sorry for myself it didn't take much to look around and feel overwhelmingly blessed and loved.

10. Convalescence provides a great opportunity to write "Thank You" cards to all the beautiful people who helped see you through the hard times.

OH Brothers!

On our camping trip this past weekend. Jay and Luke climbed into a chair together. "How sweet!" I thought. I grabbed my camera, sat back and got excited about capturing two loving brothers, snuggling up together, on a shared picnic chair.

This is what I got...

BROTHERS!

4th of July in McCall

After three weeks of "summer flu" finally, everyone seemed healthy. We had the reservations and the friends already there. So, we loaded up the car and the boat and went to McCall for the Fourth of July! It was the best one we have had yet! Mountain air is good for the soul!

There were sailboats everywhere! This one was by far the most festive. The side says "Got Rum?"





Self-Portrait


Kindra took this picture of us in front of the Shore Lodge. I blogged about our visit there during the winter...it looked much different all covered in snow.

Dave and Kindra. Our friends. They have a camper...it has a bathroom!

This is Jay's favorite spot on the boat.

I don't think Luke was having any fun at all...poor kid.

Nor was his dad.

What isn't pictured are the fireworks we watched over McCall from the middle of Payette Lake in our boat. It was as if the show was just for us!!!! AMAZING!

Our camp site the next morning. RELAXING!!!!