Italian christmas prep

 
One week before Yuletide,
preparation starts at noon.
A Christmas dinner tradition,
I’ve been helping since I was five.
A dinner that my Nonna and I pride ourselves on
after hours of hard work. 
 
She forces everyone out
of her kitchen.
She orders me to gather
all the supplies.
Rolling out the dough
and mixing the ricotta
we know we have just begun.
 
I steal some of the sweet tasting cheese,
just to have my hand swatted at.
Fun bickering back and forth,
I remind her that I’m her favorite grandchild.
More jokes and more memories.
We smile, and laugh our way through the work.
This is what makes me happy.
 
 

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