Not surprisingly, this week has been a clusterfuck of epic proportions…and like most rational people, I and the rest of my family will continue to be sheltering in place, respecting the quarantine and not getting together for the Easter weekend. Now full disclosure, I’m not religious…and I haven’t been around for a traditional Easter Sunday dinner for several years. That being said, it’s not like I don’t still get together with family during this time of year. I have hosted my in-laws for the last few years and we have kept things on the quieter side, but still with a nice meal and good company.
The important part of all of this to me, will be the fact that I’m missing Good Friday with my family. I’ll explain. My late paternal Grandfather for decades would spend Holy Week Prepping to make what he would call “Easter Pizza” – a version of calzones that he would prepare two ways- stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese or made with thinly sliced pepperoni and ricotta cheese. He would spend all day Good Friday making them, and then he would spend Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday dispensing them out to family and friends. They were delicious- and being that it was the only time of the year that you would get to eat them, it became even more of a special treat- and as we got older it honestly made us grandkids appreciate them…and more importantly- him. Seriously, when we were undergrads in college, the concept of being given a calzone or two to take back to campus with you…it was better than being handed cash.
My grandfather passed on in October of 2008 and that following Spring my Aunt started a new family tradition- every good Friday the Grandchildren- all my cousins (and over the years, the great grandchildren) would gather at her house. We would bring way too much food, get loud, swap stories, catch up with each other- all the while rolling out dough, mixing cheese, seasonings, and eggs- baking as a family. It’s loud- the room is full of laughter, playful ribbing, kids laughing and playing in the background with joyful shouts. My Aunt’s kitchen smells of baking bread, garlic and cheese. It’s a cacophony of Chicagoland suburban Italian family.
It’s perfect.
And yet…for reasons beyond the control of any one person- this pandemic is robbing us of such family get togethers- for this year at least. There are still things I can do though- simple things that remind me of the old man and good times with family. A favorite of mine and something that we would associate with both Lent and my grandfather in general- because he honestly did it year-round- the making of Peppers, Eggs & Onions- or the more trendy and correct way of putting it-making Frittata. Catholic family, meatless Fridays: A Peppers, Egg & Onion sandwich on warm crusty bread…sometimes with a little salt, or a piece of cheese melted across the top- peasant food worth having. A meal so simple, yet so satisfying.
And so, I happily this week did my part in honoring some familial bonds. I gave myself my own “Proustian Moment”- pulling out a cast iron skillet and making up a proper Italian style Frittata. Not going to lie- it’s been paying dividends- sandwiches every morning for the last 3 days- literally tasting childhood and better days.
I won’t get to proverbially be able to go home to family this year, see Aunts and Uncles, hear the kids laugh and smell the wonderful food- but it’s still nice to think about. You know, I may come from a Chicago Irish-Italian background, but like all good families- whether you are gone for months on end or a few days- you still get “that feeling” when you return to them. I think for my generation- aside from my brother who is in the service (so he wins), I have moved the furthest away while remaining in state. I leave you with this- while it was written during the 1960’s when Jewish American’s were making the cultural migration from being “the other”- Comedy Singer (and personal hero) Alan Sherman helped popularize the American Jewish experience to a broader audience by way of song- in this case, his humorous take on something we can all relate to: returning to extended family after being gone for a stretch of time. This Easter I’m not getting my family per se- but I’m getting the feeling of my family when I give this a spin. I definitely think of them when I hear this…and it makes me laugh- which I feel we all can use these days. So please folks…have a safe & healthy Easter Holiday Everybody. Take care of yourselves…and look forward to a time when you too can be greeted by friends and family with a hearty “Welcome Home!”
~Management