Hello Beautiful People,
His name is Gaetano Minutillo.
And he’s going to be 90 this weekend.
90.
I’m sitting here still trying to stomach the fact that I just turned 29…and he’s going to be 90 – and I can only hope to accomplish an eighth of what he’s done in his lifetime.
And so, on this Veterans Day, it felt appropriate to put finger to keyboard and type out some words to describe my gratitude.
I’m not sure where to begin.
My grandfather, as this beautiful article so eloquently puts it – is feisty. And reading that, well, it made me laugh…because the man is the very definition of feisty.
But he’s also fierce. He’s also brave. He’s also wise.
And smart.
But I think the greatest lessons that my Nonno has taught my cousins and I have always been about love. About the importance of family. About friendships. About going after your dreams, and not listening to the naysayers. About giving back when you can, and always be willing to lend a helping hand.
I’m not sure what to say about this man.
I’m really not.
It seems a little ridiculous to try to encapsulate a lifetime of memories and teachings and sayings and wisdom and value into an article.
Here’s my best shot –
Thank you for giving us the gift of family. Of Sunday dinners and Christmas Eve Mass and Fourth of July BBQ’S. For cousins who feel like siblings. Thank you for reminding us of a time without iPhones and internet – of a time of letters and courting and phone calls. Thank you for the tiny moments, when we were lifted into your arms and felt like we could fly. Thank you for helping us fly – with words, with hugs, with an ear to listen, with whatever you had to give. Thank you for teaching us about love – about the beauty of what forever means, what marriage means, what happens when you decide to spend your life with someone, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.
Thank you for the laughter.
Thank you for the stories of Italy, of allowing us to know where we came from.
Thank you for instilling your love of country, you’re allegiance and respect to the Red, White, and Blue.
You are the definition of the American Dream.
And I am so proud to be your granddaughter.
Happy Veterans Day!
Live, Love, Learn,