grandparents
Becoming a grandparent makes getting older something to look forward to - all the fun of parenting, without the hassle.
In Memoriam
When I was 20, my grandmother on my dad’s side passed away. I spent my birthday driving from Nebraska back home to Illinois for the funeral the following day. My grandma was easily my biggest supporter in life. At the time, I was in college majoring in music performance on the saxophone. As a part of this degree, I was required to learn the piano and had a year and a half of this study under my belt. Second to the saxophone, my grandma loved listening to me play piano. When she passed, I knew I wanted a dual meaning tattoo; one to showcase my love of music but also one that I could use to memorialize my grandma in some way. I spent weeks image searching potential saxophone, piano, and general music tattoo ideas because I was blanking on a design of my own. I already had a music one I’d designed myself but there wasn’t a way to incorporate it or add a design to help remember my grandma. I finally decided on the heartbeat that blends into piano keys. The more I thought about this one, the more I appreciated how it would showcase my love for music and I considered how I could incorporate some reminder of my grandma into it. I decided on simply inscribing her birthday onto one of the piano keys. I realized that, the more keys I used, the more I could use the tattoo to remember all my grandparents. Once I decided on the tattoo, I was itching to get it done. However, being in school full time, I didn’t have a job or any significant income. My grandma was my main source of money my freshman and sophomore years of college as I never needed much due to living and eating on campus. The longer I waited, the more impatient I got. Then, one day, I received a call from my dad. He explained that I would be receiving a check in a few days for $1,000. The money had come from an unexpected and unknown insurance policy that my grandma had in her name that had suddenly become available. I knew immediately that part of that money would be perfect to finally get the tattoo done. I still find it ironic, but also very fitting, that my grandmother was still somehow able to finance a tattoo that would memorialize her after she’d passed.
By Tony Garcia6 years ago in Families
Life in the Bronx for Charlie And Lizzy Monetti
The overwhelming difficulties of childhood mostly put at bay, my grandfather Carmine Monetti (or Charlie) certainly did his time playing stickball on the streets of the Bronx. I vaguely remember him telling me that if the kids didn’t have enough money for a ball, they would cut off the top of the broom stick and make do. Fittingly, it was the city game that continued the Monetti line.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Families
The Monetti's Make their Way in America
Alfonso probably didn’t spend a lot of time mourning his wife and kept up with his extramarital activities. A player apparently, Alfonso’s infidelities were no isolated incident, and Carmine almost bore the brunt. Holding his son’s hand one afternoon on a walk, a jealous husband took a shot at Alfonso, and one branch of the Monetti line was almost cut.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Families
My Grandmother's Kitchen
I am excited to announce my very first published book, "A Very Special Girl Named Tonya." Like many girls her age, Tonya loves playing games, dancing, and listening to music. She is surrounded by the love of her family: little brother, mother, father, and grandparents. Because of an accident, Tonya cannot use her legs to walk and so she uses a wheelchair.
By Jarita Berry-Muhammad6 years ago in Families
Chocolates & Chips
Chocolates and chips are great for kids nowadays. The same thing happened to me when I was a child. I remember as a child I used to eat chocolate and chips at three o'clock in the morning and in the evening then I did not know that they are harmful to my health. My parents then used a way to explain to me that shows in this story of mine.
By Amanpreet Kaur6 years ago in Families
Money Cake
My grandparents didn't have a lot of money, maybe that's why as an adult I remember this so well. I was pretty young, maybe turning seven and it was my birthday. We happened to be at my grandparent's little two bedroom, one bathroom house in Idaho Falls and I remember it being cold. Like the kind of cold that makes you leave your car running at the gas station while you're filling up kind of cold. Of course that isn't unusual for South-Eastern Idaho, the wind seldom stops blowing and it is legit winter for about nine months out of the year- but that's beside the point. The point is, that I was at Grandma and Grandpa's house for my birthday!! And as a little girl I couldn't be more thrilled.
By Amber Nelson6 years ago in Families
My Very First Tattoo
This is the story of my very first tattoo... and a man named Tattoo. His name is Daniel Leroy Chapman Sr., but everybody calls him Tattoo. Not me and my cousins though. We just call him Pop-Pop and my Mom Mom would lovingly refer to him as Jackass. And he isn’t just ANY man. He was the best friend I ever had... until I met my wife.
By Bridge Theory6 years ago in Families
There Was More to Uncle Willie than Just Wit
Like the Yankees, the Monetti's had a very deep bench. I had so many aunts, uncles and cousins to rejoice in at family get together's, that it was almost dizzying. And then out of nowhere, we'd go visit Uncle Willie. I was reminded he was a star in his own right, and a telling moment from his 80th birthday party revealed that he could roll as well as the rest of the roster.
By Rich Monetti6 years ago in Families
The Biscuit Principle
"I learnt a very specific lesson, a piece of sound Wisdom from my Papa, as a young child, every night before bed my Nana would make my siblings and myself a hot drink, she would give us the Biscuit Tin to take into the lounge , where my papa would be sitting in his chair, stationed in front of the TV.
By Nia Onor'e6 years ago in Families
Oh Jewel of the Lotus
OM MANI PADME HUM: I didn’t think much about the meaning of it when I got to know it. I was around 10 years old. In between childhood & teenage years. I’d spend a lot of time with my grandma Elena in a small town close to Moscow, Russia.
By Anastasita Qualia6 years ago in Families
