(Grandma's) Food for Thought

Grandma Gene holding my hand :)

     Literally, everyone's grandmother is the best cook in the world, and some people will get into altercations with others to defend their grammy's cooking.  Rumor has it, the fight between Sammi and JWow/Snooki on Jersey Shore in Miami started because Sammi told JWow that her nonna's sausage and peppers tasted like old hot dogs.  Snooki countered by saying that Sammi's nonna's lasagne tasted like catfood, and it turned into the brawl of the season.

     So why is it that we all think our grandma's cooking is the best cooking in the world?  Because it is.  Because their cooking is about more than just the food, its about the unconditional love they put into every dish and the sheer joy they receive from making our bellies full and seeing us smile.  Their meals offer us more than nutritional value, but also cultural, emotional, and intellectual nourishment.

     Every time that we sit down at the table with them, we have the opportunity to access our pasts including family history, heritage, religion, and even national history.  If it wasn't for my gwammy, I wouldn't know that when she was young girls who wore toe nail polish were considered trampy.  I wouldn't know what my mom and dad were like when they were teenagers (my parents were high school sweethearts.)  I wouldn't know about my Polish heritage: Perogies and Mushroom soup (only mushrooms handpicked by virgins in the forest) every Christmas, and Kielbasi every Easter.

Every time that we sit down at the table with them, it is a free therapy session.  We can tell them whatever is bothering us and they will only try to help us out.  If it's a secret, they will not tell a soul.  If we're mad at our parents, teachers, or siblings grandma will always be on our side.  Her solutions might include a 500 calorie oatmeal raisin cookie, but she always makes things better.

     Every time that we sit down at the table with them, we are molded into the person we will someday become.  Unconsciously, morals and habits are transmitted to us that we internalize to construct our own identity.  My grandmother knits for her local shawl ministry so that she can not only help others, but also "have something to show" for her time at night (instead of just absent-mindedly watching tv.)  At a young age, I was inspired to make crafts and volunteer as well as make sure that I too had something to show for my time.  In addition, she taught me the importance of family, tradition, and tasting everything.  No matter what she cooked I had to try it at least once (if I didn't like it I didn't have to eat the rest.)  I am so thankful that she put me through this culinary training because in Spain I can experience the culture in its entirety.  I try everything at least once.  That mentality translated to my life in general, and I am always willing to try something new.

     Today was my grandmother's birthday, and I could not get her off my mind all day.  I wrote her a sentimental Happy Birthday email, but it really upset me that I could not be with her.  I am so grateful for all that she has done for me.  From driving me to soccer, swim, gymnastics, girl scouts, to letting me kill a tree's worth of paper to color on when I was young (now I've reduced it to only killing a branch... I'm going green remember.)  With every meal that our grandmothers prepare, we are one step farther away from ever repaying them for all of the love, care, and happiness they put into our lives.  But it's okay because they don't expect us to ever repay them.  That's not why they cook us the most delicious food in the world.  Our grandmas make the most amazing meals solely because to see us happy, makes them happy; and they would sacrifice their heart and soul if it meant putting a smile on our faces.

Thank you Gwammy and Happy Birthday :)