Fresh Figs, Fond Memories... 3 Girls Comment

Girl 3 - Michelle
What a beautiful morning here in Georgia. I can't wait for the phone call from my mother and siblings once they see what I sent them fresh off the trees of Georgia. Figs,which is hard to come by in Ohio.

A found memory, of my youth, was watching my grandparents dig a hole in the ground, bend their fig tree, cover it in black tarp, and put the dirt on top each year. It scared me as a child, I always thought that it looked like a dead person. But in the spring, the ritual of the tree resurrection was a joyous event.

I called on a fellow Italian friend who also has a fig tree in her back yard. Between the two of us we were able to pick around 70 figs; my family in Ohio will enjoy the figs we sent home with my nephew.

We have to keep the found Italian memories alive even though we are miles apart.

Girl 2 - Carmella
Michelle, thank you for the gift. You made the Tasty Tomato (mom) happy. You must have been reading the old gal's mind; she was thinking about the figs and was going to ask , but forgot. It made her mad that she forgot to ask. Our fig tree did not bear fruit this year, and for some reason I have been having difficulty with basil, parsley too.

So you see even if you are miles apart the connection to family is still strong. Aren't you glad that your tree was started from Grandpa's tree that he brought from Italy all those years ago? The only problem you may have someday that if you ever move, your tree is so large you won't be able to take it with you. Well maybe! It would be nice that whenever you children marry or get a home of their own you can give them a piece of their heritage, as a starter.

Do you remember when we would go to either grandfathers house and even Zio Tony, we would always look forward to the figs; even if they rationed them to make sure everyone got one? Then in the winter time we would see mounds in their backyard that looked like they buried people in their yards? But when spring came the tree came alive again and then when it came close to July and August we would go to their house and go directly to the gardens to check out the tree and see if we could find the golden treasure.

I remember when I was in the 4th grade and we were discussing the fig trees. Mrs. Cartwright told the class they do not grow in Ohio. Well of course I had to raise my hand and tell her that they did , both my grandfathers have fig trees, one in Cleveland and one in Lorain and I will take her to see one. One day she came by to pick me up and I took her to Grandpa Disieno's house in South Lorain and showed her the fig trees. She was quite amazed and proceeded to ask Grandpa what he did in the winter to protect the fig tree. The gardener that he was, proceeded to tell how he dug the whole, soaked the tree every day, and bent it. He kept it up until it would fit into the whole and then wrapped it like a little baby so it wouldn't freeze, covered it and let it sleep out the winter. Later, she thanked me for the experience.

The only sadness, of it all, is that the nieces and nephews, and the great nieces and nephews will never experience the gentleness of those great men and women. We can only share our gift of golden memories. What a legacy they left us.

Thanks for the gift; every bite I'll think of you.

Love Carm

Girl 1 - Marie
I too would like to say thank you for the tasty Figs. We are enjoying every bite. The sweetness of the fig is like sharing the sweetness of our family's togetherness, even though we are miles apart.
The memories, the love of food, the celebrations of our lives make us stronger as a family and who we are as a family. We need to make and keep the memories alive in our family for our nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great nieces and nephews. Our family is growing and we need to keep them in touch with their roots, traditions and heritage. We need them to tell the stories of yesteryear. I have the opportunity to share these stories with our customers and I am proud and happy to retell the stories with them. What is really delicious is that their stories are similar to ours!

So, everyone out there tell your stories, be proud of who you are and where you come from. Be thankful for your families. They made you what you are today, good or not so good. If you need to, you can make the changes and improve your life. Put some spice in your life and flavor them up to have a tasty life. Live more, love more, and laugh more.

May the Blessings of God Sprinkle your lives, Ciao , Marie