Nonno Nando

The person that has been significant in my life is my grandfather. He was a really special person and i have always thought it this way altough in a period of my adolescence i could not stand him.

My parents separeted when i was still a baby and for that my grandfather thought it could be a good idea if he would help my mom taking care of me when she went to work. That's why he has been so important to me: he has practically embodied the figure of a father for years.
He was a beautiful man. Tall, slender and wide-shouldered with the years he only gained that weight that would give him a genuine look. He had strong big hands but they were also soft and warm that always remind me the bread he used to make on Sundays.
Have you ever looked in somebody else's eyes and felt that the person could actually see inside you? My grandfather had this power: his piercing, deep eyes would make you feel extremely vulnerable and ready to listen to what he had to say.
Like most children, i as well, liked to go to the park. But everytime there was my grandfather with me things were so different! He would let me lay down on the grass, get dirty in the mud, all things my mother would not be so happy about! He also tried to teach me that i should not be afraid of insects:" they are just like us, they hurt you only if they feel frithened...and look how big you are compared to them, do you really think you should be so afraid?". If i don't run screaming "help!" everytime i see an insect is because of him, although he only got this far with me: i'm still afraid of insects.

As i grew older my relationship with my grandfather started to be a little more complicated. He would impose me to dress up in a certain way, not to wear make up, and to the woman it was coming out of me this caused a lot of pain. I could not understand his rules and therefore i started to rebel against him. I didn't want to call him, didn't want to visit him, but there was no way because when my mother didn't know what to do with my behaviour she would just drop me to his house and let him deal with me. Well, i said he was a very special person. Are you wondering what made me change my mind? He surprised me. I had done something that made my mother really upset and as usual she called my grandfather to deal with it. I was scared. If she was so upset what would he say? He stood up for me. He understood why i acted in that certain way, he gave his opinion, his advice and the told me something i will always remember :" you are getting older and things cannot be imposed to you by anyone anymore. A moment will come in which you will have to count on yourself because i won't be here to warn you. The perfect way to live your life at the best and out of trouble is listening to your heart, always".
From that moment on i saw in him a new person. I learned that he was also very wise and a great friend to talk with.

He died when i was sixteen. I had never saw death so close to me before that moment. It hit me like a storm in a peaceful and sunny day of July. The last time i saw him i was about to leave his house when he told me :" wait, don't you tell me that you love me? You never know what can happen!". Thank God he said that. Thank God i told him that i loved him.

Also with his death he thought me something. Nobody is going to be with you forever: make sure the person knows what you feel inside.

For being a grandfather, a father, a friend...thank you nonno.