This is a pasta bowl. It is white with floral and green designs. The bowl may seem beaten and chipped, but it has seen generations of Sunday night Italian pasta dinners. This object represents a lot more than pasta. It represents family togetherness -- a value that is important to my Italian culture. My great-grandmother bought the bowl when she first immigrated to America to join my great-grandfather who had already established a life in New York. She may have left her family and life back in Naples, but was determined to keep her culture and tradition of ensuring her family eats together. We have been using this bowl in our traditional Sunday night dinners since then. This pasta bowl has welcomed new family members, seen children grow into adults over three generations, and served family I’ve never met such as Grandpa Johnny, Grand Aunt Jenny, and of course my great-grandparents. It was also there for multiple important family moments such as Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Confirmations. To Italians, family or la famiglia is key to life because family is where home is -- where you can always find unconditional love, emotional support, and joy.  

– S.M.

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more