June 28, 2017

Keeping Matteo's memory alive is so important to our family. We talk about him all the time and we often ask each other, "What do you think Matteo is doing right now?" Sometimes, Domenic will respond to the question with "relaxing", "watching tv," or "playing video games," but most often he responds with "eating". Eating ice cream, or margherita pizza or gnocchi... The menu items in heaven are endless. Matteo was a food aficionado. He would often ask the ingredients in the dishes he ate. He would make recommendations on how it could be better. He would knead dough with Zia Rita,sprinkle mozzarella and parmigiano with Zia Lina, bake chocolate chip cookies with AMA, make morning eggs benedict with daddy, and nod approvingly to everything bisnonna's.

When we decided to host a dinner at the Ronald McDonald House this past year we did it for Matteo. We thought, "what could we do that helps someone else AND is a significant reminder of the joy of Matteo?" It had to do with food and being in the company of others. So we chose a night and our company. With the help of Anna, Rob, Clara, Rick, Nicole and Maurizio we planned, shopped, chopped, baked, fried and stirred a beautiful dinner for the families at the Ronald McDonald house. We lit a candle (shine light,shine), said a prayer for Matteo and we ate this dinner made out of love with the families who were there. Now, not to brag or anything, but we were told, very seriously and very quietly, that the meal we provided was one of the best that they ever had. Sharing and eating with others AND being in the top 10... Matteo would be impressed.

Below is a picture of Matteo eating a plate of gnocchi at bisnonni's house. It was taken June 26th, 2016. We will treasure this picture forever, not because it was the last time Matteo would eat his nonna's gnocchi, but because of how he savoured it. How he enjoyed it. How he took his time and appreciated it. Maybe we can all learn something from our little Matteo. To take a few minutes, catch our breath, be grateful and savour every bite.

P.S. As I was writing this, I received at text from Matteo's wonderful grade 3 teacher. They did a bake sale and wanted the money to go to a cause connected to Matteo. The students thought of the Ronald McDonald house.

Love begets more love.