Tradition
The discussion usually started around ten in the morning if we were all home. "I wonder what Grandma is making for lunch." There was no thought to the fact that lunch wouldn't be an event. We didn't even consider that we might be interfering on their day. "Let's go." By 11:30 we'd be sitting in either the garage on nice summer days or on the couch across from Grandpa as Grandma ran around the kitchen making extra food. The aroma of garlic and olive oil just driving us crazy as Grandpa asked us about our lives, and sometimes told us where we were screwing them up. Right up until the very end Grandpa would have a shot before lunch. I'm not sure what he did, but Jim or John can probably fill in the details. The real event was the meal. There was usually pasta of some sort. We all had our favorites. Pasta and peas, or macaroni and beans. Sometimes marinara. Every once in awhile left over sauce from Sunday. The meat, the bread. Oh ...