When I lived in Barcelona, I traveled quite a bit through Italy. I loved Florence and it’s people. While there I couldn’t help observing that the younger woman were tall, thin and gorgeous? The older women were short, full figured and hunched. Still completely cute and lively, but the physique was so different. What happened from youth to older age?
Today I was just relaxing and cooking one of my favorite Italian sauces. A delicate blend of paper thin sliced garlic, Cipollini onions, melted down slowly with olive oil and butter (yes butter) on medium low heat, then you just stir in your fresh Italian tomatoes and basil. Yum!! toss with fresh pasta and Parmesan, viola! Here I am, leaning into to the pan, stirring gently like I’m caring for an infant. After a few minutes, I stand up straight, push my shoulders back and stretch my back.
just realized that for years I would wondered why my Italian grandma (and many like her) shrank into a hunched over version of themselves as they advanced into a ripe old age. Still strong and full of life, but hunched. The reason, for years they stayed in that position stirring their favorite Italian sauces like a loved child. Eventually into their late eights, for my grandma her 90’s they just stayed there, no longer able to straighten up. Maybe this made her happy because it represented what she loved to do in her life.
Have you ever noticed something like this in your grandma or older loved one? A fixed position based on an activity they loved to do in there earlier years?
