La vita è bella in Italian means "life is beautiful!"
My Italian grandma (my Nonna) has lived with my family and I for about 5 years now. She is 91 years old and a real trip! She's about 4'3" with short, curly, white hair and a big panza (stomach) that doesn't fit her tiny body at all! She loves to give and get kisses and most of all she loves when she is all together with the people she loves! She might be 91, but I'll be the first to tell you she's sharp! She's basically a math whiz and she still remembers almost everything!
Whenever I have gotten to have long talks with Nonna she's always shared her wisdom with me. We both grew up in completely different places with completely different standards, but there are some lessons that never go out of date. Nonna and I have had talks on any number of things - modesty, school, marriage, trusting God, obeying parents - Nonna has advice on all of it! And sometimes, when I was too exhausted to try to communicate with her in Italian, I would just sit on the floor at her feet and rest my head on her lap and let her stroke my hair with her little, weathered hand.
Three weeks ago, Nonna had a minor stroke. My mom found her in the morning on the ground and in complete confusion complaining of pain everywhere. They rushed her to the emergency room and a few hours later found out it had been a stroke that rendered her so. For me, the news completely wrecked me. It was the day of the final dress rehearsal for my last high school musical. I found out the period before I was supposed to go take a big AP biology test, but none of it mattered at the time. My Nonna was at the emergency room and all I could think about was how I could get to her fastest. I took that AP bio test in about 10 mins flat and quickly drove to the emergency room.
My mom told me that Nonna had been really out of it all morning, but when I came to see her, she talked with me just like always! She told me several times I had to eat (typical Italian that she is!) and smiled and sang Italian songs with me as doctors and nurses whirled in and out talking with my mom and uncle. Then it was time to examine Nonna a little more. And of course, all of the doctors had some kind of foreign accent, be it Indian or Chinese, etc. But none of them spoke Italian! The only language Nonna was understanding at that point. They tried to get her to do things, but she had no idea what they were saying - my mom and uncle didn't even understand and they were all speaking English!
After the long, grueling processes in the emergency room, we finally got Nonna a real room in the hospital. She wasn't eating, she wasn't talking, she wasn't smiling. I went to see her everyday, even the days when I had my play at school, and I was heartbroken every time I visited, having to see her so unhappy. Finally after her time at the hospital, we got her moved to an assited living center for therapy. It's there where Nonna is right now. The first night there Nonna didn't fall asleep until three in the morning. I know this because I stayed with her all night. She couldn't sleep, she kept having to go to the bathroom, she was too hot, she was confused. Everyday since then, Nonna has gotten better and better and now talks with me more and more just like old times! She still isn't eating like she's supposed to, but who can blame her when you see the food they're giving her there! My relatives all cater to her and when she says she doesn't want to eat they don't force her, but I'm not like that. I need her to eat so she can be strong again to come back home. I miss her. So when I'm there, I make her eat the whole bowl of pasta that we bring from home! She doesn't eat for anyone else, but she eats for me! And when she goes to bed, I lay down next to her until she falls asleep. My uncle tells me not to baby her in that way and to let her go to sleep by herself, but the truth is she doesn't need me there. I need her! I need to see her smile at me before she closes her eyes. I need to feel her stroke my face as she turns on her side to sleep - just like how I sleep. She's my Nonna, and I still need her!
I've had her around for forever, but it's so easy to take a beautiful thing in life for granted. I've taken her presence in my life for granted for a long time, but I couldn't ever do that again. My Nonna is more than just the woman who I was named after, she is my principessa bella, mia gioia, mio sole, mia vita! Nonna helps me everyday to see how beautiful life really is. I love my Nonna and my Nonna loves me, and all she has taught me will follow me throughout my whole life!
