On The Fourth Of July at 5 in the morning, Grandma Carmel left her body.
Grandma Carmel, that's how my sisters and I always referred to her. I am glad to hear she will be buried next to Grampa Frank. They can bicker all they want there now. Their bickering made us giggle! We were all very little.
Our aunt and uncle were not yet married or divorced. Our cousin Gina bragged about breaking-up her aunt's past relationships by being a brat, while she kicked the current relationship in the shins with her pointy cowboy boots. I like my aunt, she reminds me of my sister Elizabeth, whom is named for Grandma Carmel. Middle name.
Grandma Carmel made the best food for holidays. Her roast beef was exquisite. Salty, juicy, tender, but not too tender. Melt in your mouth tender. The edges had delicate meaty fibers that were crisped by the oven. There were always creamy green beans, french cut with the crispy onions as I recall. On the other hand it could have been real bacon in the regular green beans, not "Bacon Bits", like we had back in our fridge, so it was fancy.
I liked the way she spoke. I liked that she was Irish. I liked talking to her later in my 20's and on the phone in my 30's. Rest in Peace Grandma Carmel, and kiss Grampa Frank on his cheek for me.
