I would first like to congratulate all grandparents—veterans and new-to-be on this glorious and magnificent day! Where would all the children of today be without the love, attention and time given by this special group of people?

Credit has to be given to a dedicated woman, who wanted the elderly to be respected and honored for the traditions, family values, knowledge, love and cultural heritage that they bestow on their families all year round.

Marian McQuade was the person responsible for accomplishing this genuine task of love. President Jimmy Carter was overwhelmed with the idea and made it a national holiday in 1978.

I can remember growing up and living close to my grandparents. The aroma of homemade sauce, meatballs and Italian bread would fill their home every Sunday morning. I can’t forget helping my grandparents with various gardening and cooking chores. They showed me how to pick out tomato plants and plant them in their backyard. When the tomatoes were ripened I helped them make the tomato sauce which we sealed in glass jars. It WAS hard work but it was worth it. I do appreciate the time they spent and the patience they had for me.

My Nonno showed me how to pick out the juiciest grapes to make home-made wine. In my opinion, my Nonno was the best wine maker in town. Salute, Nonno!

Making pasta from scratch was an art in itself. I always enjoyed cracking the eggs and rolling the dough through the pasta maker. The best part came when we all sat down at the dinner table to eat “L’abbondanza.” My Nonna would always say, “Andiamo a tavola a mangiare. Buon Appetite!!! My Nonno would tell us all about his growing up as a child in Italy. I must admit, as corny as it sounds, “Those were the good old days!” These are just a few of the memories that I still remember today and pass on to my family.

Every school year my preschoolers and after-school children work on projects to present to their grandparents for this special day. Singing a song, making cupcakes or grandpa’s favorite dessert might be another idea to consider. You will be filling in a gap for generations to come and opening a portal for communication and trust within the family.

If you visit my gallery of children’s poems you will see some of the haikus or poems that the children wrote about their grandparents. This year we also decided that the children should add an extra touch and write a poem about themselves. They thought it would be fun to see if their grandparents are “up-to-date” with their own grandchildren.

Make your family memories last with photos, cards, pictures and personal writings for generations to come.