Welcome to the Annual REAL World Holiday Marathon!

Sammy & Ilna - your becoming la famiglia is the best gift ever. Love you both.

REAL McRollers, your loyalty to Steve & Catherine and the REAL World warms our hearts.

We wish everyone celebrating happy holidays and a healthy new year.

Strega Nona ... with Nonna

"... and my Nonna came all the way from New Jersey, where it snows. A lot. And she's gonna do our story today." DJ smiled as his friends greeted Nonna.

"And Nonna," Joni Lane smiled at how the great grandmother told her that's 'what everyone calls me, dear' at their introduction, "has a very special book she would like to read. So let's all be good listeners."

As Danny escorted his grandmother to the reading chair and pecked her cheek, she patted his hand and told the second graders, "I'm lucky to have such good grandchildren."

"DJ's Daddy and Uncle Danny are your grandsons?" a boy named Caleb asked.

"DJ is my prinopote, which means great grandson in Italian, but yes, these big, brave men are my grandchildren." She gestured to Danny, then Steve who stood against the back wall next to Catherine, with a smile.

When the children settled and were paying attention, she held up the book that featured a woman in front of a cottage, holding a cauldron and looking at a large bird. "This book takes place in a town called Calabria, in Italy, where my parents were born, and all my grandchildren have a copy."

As she said the title, Strega Nona, several children made the connection to their guests' name and gasped or squealed. DJ's friend April smiled and giggled when his great grandma said, "Strega means witch in Italian, but it's not a scary, Halloween witch. It's much more like another type of Huna." Nonna smiled at Joni's confirming nod. She'd looked up the name of shamanism in ancient Hawai'i. "Someone who uses good energy to help others."

The children were mesmerized as she read. Not simply by the entertaining tale of Big Anthony causing havoc with too much pasta, but by the lady who was as enchanting as she was kind.

As she closed the book, Danny elbowed Steve. "Look at that. Not a peep. From a room full of seven year olds."

"The power of Nonna," Catherine said and all three nodded.

At the front of the room, several hands shot up, then comments and questions flew from the children.

"Do you have a big pot like that?"

"Big Anthony was so full!"

"I love pasta!"

"Strega Nona is so nice, she didn't get mad at all the pasta."

"I love that book, I have it at home!"

The children broke into groups when question time was over and with the help of the adults, each made a La Bifana to be used as either a Christmas ornament or a lucky charm.

The afternoon ended with a snack of knots and everyone excitedly telling Nonna, Steve, Catherine and Danny about the class party scheduled for the following day.

As the family walked outside to the parking lot, DJ, who was walking between his mother and Nonna, holding each of their hands, looked up at Catherine. "If Nonna had a magic pot, we'd have sooooo much pasta, right, Mommy?"

Danny grinned. "We have a lot of pasta with a regular pot, so with a magic one Nonna could feed the whole island." He bent to kiss her cheek.

"We'd need Big Anthony to eat it all!" The seven year old giggled.

"I think your father could eat it all…" Danny teased.

"At least I wouldn't forget the part to stop the pasta." Steve smirked.

"Are you insinuating I'd hijack the pasta pot and forget to turn it off?" his partner retorted.

"Boys, boys, you're both very good listeners. I wouldn't be worried for a minute." Nonna shared a smile with Catherine at the two men knowing the story well enough to fuss over it's details.

DJ laughed. He was used to his daddy and uncle teasing each other. Nonna always said that's what brothers do. "Strega Nona is so nice, she didn't get mad when Big Anthony wasn't a good listener. She just let him eat all the pasta and she saved the town." DJ nodded and squeezed Nonna's hand.

"That's right, prinopote. Anthony learned to be a better listener and he ate all the pasta." She squeezed back. "Your friends were very good today. Thank you for inviting me to your class, sweet boy."

"Thank you for coming, Nonna." His dark eyes were glowing happily. "I'm gonna put my Bifana on the tree with Angie, so it can be both of ours."

Nonna stopped and wrapped him in a hug. "Such a good big brother. Just like my Steven and Daniel."

"Hey, Nonna, can we read Strega Nona with Angie after dinner at Uncle Danny's?"

"I'd like nothing more, cara mia."

Danny winked at he grandmother and she patted the arm he'd looped through hers. "Three guesses what we're having for dinner."

The adults chimed in as DJ responded with enthusiasm, "Pasta!"

# End. Thanks for reading!

Stay tuned tomorrow as our marathon continues

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